The two leaders then co-chaired a press conference to announce the results of the talks to officials from both countries and a large number of Vietnamese and Hungarian reporters.

Hungary - Vietnam relations are very meaningful

Speaking at the opening of the press conference, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Hungary is a Central Eastern European country and has an Eastward policy. The Hungarian leader said that his country belongs to the West but comes from the East, always valuing the values ​​of equality, family, and serving its people. He assessed that the Hungary-Vietnam relationship is very meaningful because Vietnam is a leading developing country in Asia. Prime Minister Orbán said that in recent years, besides traditional investors, investment from Eastern countries has increased. "We welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with the hope that Vietnam will join the group of successful Asian countries. We will raise trade turnover to a new level."

Prime Minister Orbán assessed that Vietnam has been successful in trade cooperation with Europe through the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Hungary attaches great importance to that. He also called on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to support investment from Vietnam to Hungary. The Hungarian leader said that cooperation between the two countries is not only limited to the fields of production and trade, but also includes scientific research, agricultural exports, healthcare, educational cooperation, culture, etc. In addition, Prime Minister Orbán said that the two nations have many similarities, both have overcome many difficulties and challenges, found their own positions and protected their nations on the world map. The Hungarian leader also shared that his country and Vietnam have similar views on war and peace. According to him, both countries have experienced war and it is not by chance that the two countries share the same views on peace. He expressed his admiration for Vietnam's victory in the wars. “In the world’s disputes, we always support peace. We always stand up and defend the peaceful viewpoint. We find common ground with Vietnam on this,” he said.

Bright sunny weather in winter in Budapest

At the press conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, thanked Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his warm and respectful welcome to Vietnam. “Although it was winter, when we arrived at Heroes' Square (in Budapest), the sun was shining brightly, signaling the good cooperative relationship between the two countries,” the Vietnamese leader shared, receiving a smile from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán standing next to him. He shared that he had a very frank and comprehensive but sincere, trustworthy, substantive and effective meeting with Prime Minister Orbán, based on the foundation of the Vietnam-Hungary relationship over the past 74 years and the comprehensive partnership since 2018. Sharing with the Hungarian Prime Minister about the similarity in views on peace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reviewed the wars Vietnam has gone through. The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam knows and appreciates the value of peace, loves peace and does its utmost for peace. Speaking to the Hungarian Prime Minister and officials of the two countries, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam pursues an independent, self-reliant, diversified, and multilateral foreign policy; is a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community; and practices the bamboo diplomatic style as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has pointed out: firm roots, sturdy trunk, and flexible branches. He also emphasized that in its foreign policy, Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional relationship with Hungary - the only country in Central Eastern Europe that has a comprehensive partnership with Vietnam. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that economic, investment, and trade cooperation is the focus of the two countries. Accordingly, Vietnam continues to encourage more, stronger, and deeper investment from both countries. The two sides are also determined to soon bring two-way trade turnover to 2 billion USD.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also sincerely thanked the Government and people of Hungary for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Hungary to live and integrate into the local society, serving as a bridge for the friendly relations between the two countries. He hoped that Hungary would soon recognize the Vietnamese community in Hungary as an ethnic minority of Hungary and enjoy equal policies like other ethnic groups in Hungary. At the end of his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh believed that Hungary would become increasingly strong and prosperous; the Hungarian people would become increasingly happy and prosperous; the Vietnam-Hungary relationship, which was already good, would become even better, more effective, and more trusting of each other.