Within the framework of Qatari policy values, which are based on building bridges and the strongest ties and relations with various countries and peoples of the world, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on an official visit to Hungary at invitation of HE President of Hungary Katalin Novak.
During the visit, HH the Amir will meet with HE President of Hungary Katalin Novak, Hungarian Viktor Orban and a number of senior Hungarian officials to discuss strengthening cooperation relations between the two countries in various fields, in addition to the most important regional and international issues of common concern.
It is expected that HH the Amir’s visit to Hungary and the talks that will take place during it will contribute to supporting and strengthening relations between the two countries in various fields, especially in the economic, trade and investment sectors, as well as in the field of energy.
HH the Amir’s visit to Budapest reflects the keenness of the leaderships of the two countries to strengthen and develop bilateral relations and their desire to push them towards new areas and broader horizons and build cooperation and strategic partnership that serves the two countries and their common interests and aspirations.
Relations between the two countries are based on solid values of respect, mutual trust, political and economic cooperation, and common interests. The two countries have a common and firm belief in the importance of maintaining international peace and stability, settling disputes through dialogue and peaceful means, and playing an active and influential role in this context at the regional and international levels.
The relations between Qatar and Hungary are close and distinguished at all levels. They witnessed remarkable development over the years due to the mutual official visits between the two countries. The bilateral relations are organized by a set of agreements and MOU signed between the two countries, which cover cooperation in the political, commercial, industrial, cultural, artistic and tourism fields, as well as sports and youth, air services, avoidance of double taxation and prevention of financial evasion, in addition to cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, business, education, higher education and scientific research.
Qatari-Hungarian relations were established in 1990, at the non-resident embassies level. In late 2004, a resident embassy of the State of Qatar was opened in Budapest, and mutual visits continued at various levels between the two countries. These relations were strengthened after the important official visit paid by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Hungary on June 12, 2002, who was received by Hungarian President Ferenc Madl. During this visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed.
In the first visit by a Hungarian President to the State of Qatar, HE President Janos Ader visited the State of Qatar in May 2014, during which an official talks session was held at the Amiri Diwan between the State of Qatar and Hungary, chaired by HH the Amir and HE President Janos Ader. During the session, they reviewed bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and ways of developing them in various fields, in addition to signing an agreement for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the governments of the two countries.
In recent years, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban paid a number of visits to the State of Qatar, the most recent of which was last May. HH the Amir and Hungarian Prime Minister held an official talks session at the Amiri Diwan, which dealt with developing cooperation, especially in the areas of economy and investment, in addition to exchanging views on the most important developments of common interest regionally and internationally.
In a previous interview with the Qatar News Agency , HE Viktor Orban affirmed his country’s keenness on building strategic partnership with the State of Qatar in different fields, in light of the growing cooperation relations between the two countries. HE said that the Qatari-Hungarian relations are steadily growing, adding that the two countries are keen on strengthening these relations in different fields to serve the two people’s interests. He also pointed out that the two countries have set several strategic aspects of cooperation that are of high priority to both of them, including energy, agriculture and infrastructure, especially with relation to air transport, in addition to cooperation in the security and military fields. Cooperation in the field of energy is of utmost importance to Hungary, which seeks to purchase Qatari LNG after 2026, he said, adding that cooperation in agriculture will be a valuable opportunity for the two friendly countries and will also boost Qatar’s food security efforts. The cooperation between Qatar and Hungary in the field of infrastructure is currently focusing on the air transport sector, he said, pointing out that the two countries are currently discussing the possibility of attracting Qatari investments to this sector, especially airports. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency