Hungary has been a key partner in developing Việt Nam’s skilled workforce, particularly in engineering, medicine, and natural sciences, Hungarian Ambassador to Việt Nam Tibor Baloghdi emphasised ahead of Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas’s official visit to Việt Nam from May 27 to 29. Speaking to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Ambassador Baloghdi described the visit, made at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Lương Cường, as a landmark event that reflects Hungary’s highest diplomatic commitment and signals the continued strengthening of bilateral ties.
Hungary and Việt Nam established diplomatic relations on February 3, 1950, and over the decades, Hungary has consistently supported Việt Nam across multiple sectors. Thousands of Vietnamese students have studied in Hungary, especially in technical and scientific fields, contributing to Việt Nam’s human resource development and economic progress. “Our diplomatic relations are built on mutual respect, cooperation, and long-standing friendship,” Ambassador Baloghdi noted. “Hungary remains a trusted partner and is eager to continue contributing to Việt Nam’s future growth.”
Two-way trade between the two nations has grown steadily, reaching US$1 billion with a 17% increase over the past year. Hungarian companies are expanding their presence in Việt Nam in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, food, agriculture, and defence. A key milestone in the partnership was the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2018, which expanded cooperation beyond trade and investment to include education, healthcare, science, and technology.
Recent high-level visits have further boosted bilateral ties, including Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit to Hungary in January 2024, which resulted in several new agreements, and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto’s visit to Việt Nam in March this year, which enhanced the effectiveness of joint initiatives. Looking ahead, Ambassador Baloghdi highlighted priority areas for future cooperation, including the economy, trade, education, training, and climate change response. Hungary remains committed to offering scholarships to Vietnamese students under the Stipendium Hungaricum programme, attracting young talent and deepening academic exchanges between the two nations.
The ambassador also underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy, announcing plans by the Hungarian Embassy to organise cultural weeks, film screenings, and exhibitions showcasing Hungary’s rich heritage to Vietnamese audiences. Promoting direct exchanges between artists, writers, and scholars would help further bridge cultural gaps and strengthen people-to-people ties, he said. On the economic front, Hungary sees promising opportunities to collaborate with Việt Nam in hi-tech agriculture, digital transformation, water resource management, medical technology, and artificial intelligence. Ambassador Baloghdi affirmed that Hungary is ready to support Việt Nam through joint research projects, technology transfer initiatives, and expanded educational partnerships.
He also emphasised Hungary’s intention to support Việt Nam’s private sector development and innovation efforts, helping the country transition toward a high-value, knowledge-based economy. “Việt Nam’s commitment to knowledge-driven growth and economic modernization will increase its global competitiveness and improve the quality of life for its people,” Baloghdi said. The visit by President Sulyok Tamas marks a significant step forward, reinforcing the deep historical ties and mutual aspirations that continue to drive Hungary-Việt Nam relations into a new era of comprehensive and dynamic partnership.
