VIVIET NAM - HUNGARY RELATIONS

Vietnam and Hungary established diplomatic ties on 3rd Feb, 1950. The two countries have been maintaining traditional friendship cooperation.

Official visits of Vietnamese Leaders to Hungary: Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam (May 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong (August 1994); Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Van Tuu (Sep 1995); Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (May 1997); Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van Yeu (December 1999); Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien (September 2003); President Tran Duc Luong (May 2004); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (September 2009); Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (November 2010).

Official visits of Hungarian Leaders to Vietnam: Vice-Chairman of Parliament Korodi Maria (April 1996), Foreign Minister Kovacs Laszlo (April 1997); President Goncz Arpad (February 1998); Vice-Chairman of Parliament Szili Katalin (April 2000); Chairman of Parliament Szili Katalin (March 2004); Prime Minister Gyurcsanyi Ferenc (July 2005); Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Medgyessy Peter (March 2007); Foreign Minister Goncz Kinga (March 2008); President Sojom Laszlo (May 2008); Foreign Minister Martonyi Janos (7/2010); Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Nemeth Zsolt (October 2010).

The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries continues to develop. The two- way trade in recent years is as followings: (millions $)

                                                                                 (Source: Vietnam Customs)

Hungary supported Vietnam’s bid to join the WTO without requirements of negotiation and supported Vietnam's nomination as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in the 2008-2009 term, in exchange Vietnam supports Hungary’s nomination as a nonpermanent member of the UNSC in the 2012-2013 term.

Since 2003, Hungary has considered Vietnam as one of strategic partners in its ODA policy. In 2004, the ODA program started with a freshwater fish-hatching project. In 2005, Hungary granted 600,000 USD to Vietnam. During Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsany Ferenc's visit to Vietnam in July 2005, the two sides signed a framework agreement on cooperation and development setting out common principles in supplying and receiving Hungary’s ODA to Vietnam in the future. In 2006, Hungary pledged to grant over 500,000 EUR to Vietnam. In that framework, the Hungarian Government provided 110,000 USD to Vietnam in a project named “the development of crocodile-skin products export”. In 2007, Hungary’s ODA is as the same as that of 2006. In 2008, Hungary pledged to grant over 500,00 EUR to Vietnam and provided 35 million EUR for 2 water-purification projects in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and population management project of the Ministry of Public Security. In 2009, Hungary committed another 60 million EUR for the construction of Can Tho Oncology Hospital.

In 2010, the two sides held many activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Both sides demonstrated determination and wish to further enhance traditional friendship relations to reach a new stage, especially in the economic and trade areas and when the two countries had gained important achievements in their respective national construction and regional and international integration. Until now, the two sides have signed: Double Taxation Agreement; Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement; Judicial Assistance Agreement; Joint statement on the Development of Vietnam-Hungary cooperation and relations; Economic Cooperation Agreement; Agricultural Cooperation Agreement; Development Cooperation Agreement; Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement; Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment and Hungary’s Ministry of Economy and Transportation, and various cooperation plans in education and training, tourism, culture, customs and broadcasting technology. 

The Vietnam-Hungary Joint Committee for economic cooperation was first held in Budapest in September 2005, the second meeting in Hanoi in December 2007 and the third one in Budapest in January 2010.

In Education, Hungary gives Vietnam 5 scholarships in engineering and 20 scholarships in agriculture for each year.

The Vietnamese community in Hungary is about more than 4,000 people, most of them live in Budapest./.

                                                                                                               06/01/2012