Interview Response of Ambassador Bui Le Thai on the Occasion of the Visit to Vietnam by Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó

. Could you please evaluate the significance of the upcoming visit to Vietnam by Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó for the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership, especially as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations?

The visit of Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, to Vietnam takes place in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries (from 3 February 1950 to 3 February 2025), which is highly significant. The visit not only reflects Hungary’s respect for its relationship with Vietnam, but also opens up new opportunities for cooperation, further strengthening and developing the Comprehensive Partnership between our two nations, deepening and making the relationship more effective.

The visit provides an opportunity for both sides to reflect on the progress of our cooperation in various fields, assess the implementation of signed agreements, particularly those made during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Hungary in January 2024, and discuss preparations for the 10th session of the Vietnam-Hungary Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation. This will aim to propose measures to further enhance bilateral relations, especially in trade, commerce, and investment.

In 2025, Vietnam and Hungary are planning to organize numerous practical activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, including high-level delegations, cultural events, and trade and investment promotion activities. Minister Szijjártó’s visit will contribute to promoting and preparing for these events.

2. Hungary is Vietnam’s first Comprehensive Partner in Central and Eastern Europe. What are some of the key highlights of bilateral relations over the past seven decades, particularly since the upgrade to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2018, Ambassador?

The relationship between our two countries has been built on a foundation of profound political trust and mutual understanding, nurtured throughout Vietnam’s struggle for independence and reunification and during its current period of renovation and development. President Ho Chi Minh played a crucial role in laying the foundation and developing this longstanding friendship.

The respect shown by the Hungarian government and people for President Ho Chi Minh, along with the support and assistance extended to Vietnam during its fight for independence and reunification, have made Hungary a loyal and close friend of Vietnam over the past 75 years. Hungary is the only country in Central and Eastern Europe that has erected a full-length statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Zalaegerszeg, a tribute that remains timeless.

Over the past seven decades, our relations have made remarkable strides, with the highlight being the elevation of our partnership to a Comprehensive Partnership in September 2018 during the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Hungary. This made Hungary Vietnam’s first Comprehensive Partner in Central and Eastern Europe, opening a new phase in our bilateral relations.

Since the upgrade to a Comprehensive Partnership, bilateral trade has increased significantly, surpassing the $1 billion mark, making Vietnam one of Hungary’s largest trading partners in Southeast Asia. Hungary also considers Vietnam a priority in its official development assistance (ODA) policy, committing €440 million (around $465 million) in concessional loans for projects in areas of mutual interest. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Hungary was among the first countries to support Vietnam with over 200,000 vaccine doses and numerous medical supplies, which helped Vietnam overcome the crisis. Annually, Hungary provides the most scholarships to Vietnamese students in Central and Eastern Europe, with about 200 scholarships.

Moreover, both countries have signed numerous cooperation agreements in almost all fields, providing a solid legal framework and foundation for deepening and strengthening our bilateral cooperation. Notably, our two political parties, the Communist Party of Vietnam and Hungary’s Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening party cooperation in 2017, providing a political foundation for the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Hungary.

Additionally, regular exchanges between both countries, such as political consultations at the deputy ministerial level and meetings of the Vietnam-Hungary Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation, have been maintained. There have been vibrant exchanges in culture, sports, and tourism.

3. Hungary has always been a strong supporter of Vietnam in the process of negotiating and signing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and was the first EU country to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Economic, trade, and investment cooperation is also identified as a key pillar in bilateral relations. What measures are being taken to enhance and strengthen this pillar through the existing cooperation mechanisms?

Vietnam considers Hungary one of its key economic partners in Central and Eastern Europe, and Hungary, with its “Eastern Opening” policy, also sees Vietnam as a priority partner in Southeast Asia. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which entered into force on 1 August 2020, has created favorable conditions for enhancing trade exchanges between Vietnam and the EU, including Hungary.

Right after the EVFTA came into force, Vietnam stepped up its trade promotion and business connectivity efforts, organizing numerous trade delegations from various Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to Hungary to explore the market, connect partners, and seek cooperation, business, and investment opportunities. A notable example is the Vietnam-Hungary Business Forum held during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính’s visit to Hungary in January 2024, co-chaired by the two prime ministers.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary has also actively coordinated with domestic and local authorities to organize workshops and business forums to connect businesses from both countries, display products, especially key Vietnamese exports such as ST25 rice, thus helping to increase the export turnover of Vietnamese goods to Hungary. From 2020 to 2022, the total trade turnover between the two countries reached over $1 billion per year, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top Southeast Asian countries exporting to Hungary, with traditional agricultural products maintaining their position in the Hungarian market.

In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached $932 million, a 10% increase, with exports amounting to $706 million and Vietnam achieving a trade surplus of $550 million. In 2024, the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary and the Trade Office organized a delegation of 37 Hungarian companies, distributors, and retailers to visit Vietnam and attend the Vietnam Sourcing Expo 2024 to explore investment, business, and cooperation opportunities. In 2025, the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary will continue to organize a Hungarian business delegation to attend the International Supply Chain Goods Expo in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hungary was the first EU member to ratify EVIPA, demonstrating Hungary’s strong commitment to protecting investor interests and creating a stable, transparent business environment. This encourages Hungarian companies to invest in Vietnam and vice versa. Many Hungarian enterprises have expressed interest in taking advantage of EVFTA to explore investment and business opportunities in Vietnam. To date, Hungary’s direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam amounts to $72.36 million, ranking 55th out of 149 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. On the other hand, Vietnam has invested in Hungary through two projects with a total capital of $5.8 million, and a large investment project valued at over $80 million is currently in the investment licensing stage.

These efforts from both sides have contributed significantly to strengthening and enhancing the economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary.

4. The people-to-people ties have always been an essential factor in strengthening the long-lasting friendship between Vietnam and Hungary. What activities have been carried out in this special year to promote deeper people-to-people exchanges, Ambassador?

In 2025, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Hungary (3 February 1950 – 3 February 2025), the two countries have planned a series of activities aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and further strengthening the friendship and connection between the people of our two nations. First, both countries will continue to maintain high-level visits to enhance political trust and mutual understanding. In addition to the visit of Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary’s President and National Assembly Chairman are also expected to visit Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, there will be two high-level delegations and numerous deputy minister-level delegations from various ministries, localities, and committees of the Vietnamese National Assembly visiting Hungary.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary has also planned many activities to meaningfully celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, such as a Vietnam Cultural Day, photo exhibitions, screenings of short documentaries about the history of Vietnam-Hungary relations since 1950, and Ao Dai performances at the National Assembly, along with organizing a Vietnam-Hungary Business Forum, trade promotion workshops, and introducing Vietnamese export products.

At the end of April, the Vietnamese Embassy will organize a solemn ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-Hungary relations, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and national reunification. This will also serve as an occasion to express gratitude for the valuable support Hungary extended to the Vietnamese people in their struggle for independence and in their current efforts to renew and build the nation. On this occasion, the Embassy will cooperate with Hungary to publish a special edition commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In addition, the Embassy will organize a seminar on the peaceful, independent, free, and happy thoughts of President Ho Chi Minh, in cooperation with the Zalaegerszeg City government, where the statue of President Ho Chi Minh is located.

The Embassy is also promoting cooperation between several localities of both countries, further enhancing people-to-people exchanges and creating numerous opportunities for cooperation across various sectors.

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and Hungary is further strengthened by the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Hungary. This community has integrated well into Hungarian society, making significant contributions to Hungary’s socio-economic development while also playing a role as a bridge to reinforce the friendship between our two nations. The Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary is actively advocating for the recognition of the Vietnamese community as a minority group in Hungary so that they can fully integrate into Hungarian society, contributing more to the lasting friendship between the two peoples.

I believe that these high-level visits and activities will play an essential role in enhancing political trust, mutual understanding, fostering people-to-people exchanges, and further strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Hungary during this special year.