Vietnam: EU’s Largest and Most Crucial Trade Partner in Southeast Asia, Affirms Hungarian Parliament Speaker

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that, in pursuing an independent, self-reliant foreign policy and diversifying international relations, Vietnam consistently values and seeks to strengthen ties with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, with Hungary being a top priority partner.

Recalling his official visit to Hungary in January 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in bilateral relations. He viewed Chairman Kover’s visit as a new milestone in deepening ties between the two nations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh briefed Chairman Kover on Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development, sharing strategic directions, goals, solutions, and lessons learned in economic growth, growth model innovation, institutional reform, administrative streamlining, science and technology development, and building an independent, self-reliant economy.

Chairman Kover expressed joy and emotion upon returning to Vietnam after 10 years, thanking the Vietnamese leadership and people for their warm reception. He conveyed President Sulyok Tamas’s greetings and invitation to General Secretary To Lam to visit Hungary. He admired Vietnam’s remarkable achievements after nearly 40 years of renewal and its growing regional and international role, affirming Vietnam as Hungary’s top partner in Southeast Asia.

Both leaders emphasized economic, trade, and investment cooperation as vital to bilateral relations, agreeing to strengthen these areas to reflect their strong political ties. Prime Minister Chinh appreciated Hungary’s early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urged the Hungarian National Assembly to support its swift ratification by other EU members. Chairman Kover affirmed Hungary’s commitment to promoting EVIPA’s ratification, benefiting both the EU and Vietnam, its largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.

In a friendly and trusting atmosphere, both leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties. Prime Minister Chinh proposed: (i) enhancing political trust through high-level exchanges across Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels; (ii) doubling bilateral trade to $2 billion; (iii) effectively implementing Hungarian-funded projects; (iv) cooperating in education, especially in Hungary’s strengths like nuclear energy, high technology, and pharmaceuticals; (v) collaborating on water security; (vi) promoting labor cooperation; and (vii) celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Chairman Kover strongly supported Prime Minister Chinh’s proposals. He noted unanimous cross-party support in the Hungarian National Assembly for deepening ties with Vietnam. He affirmed Hungary’s commitment to implementing high-level agreements, enhancing economic and trade relations, and perfecting the legal framework for bilateral cooperation, thereby deepening the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership.

Discussing regional and international issues, both leaders agreed to coordinate and support each other in multilateral forums, advocating for peaceful dispute resolution based on international law to maintain regional stability. Prime Minister Chinh sought Hungary’s support for Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the South China Sea, emphasizing peaceful resolution under UNCLOS 1982.

Prime Minister Chinh asked Chairman Kover to convey his regards to Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor.