In a landmark meeting, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev warmly welcomed Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban to Kazakhstan, expressing gratitude for his significant role in fostering a stronger relationship between the two nations. The discussion took place during the anniversary summit of the Organization of Turkic States, providing an auspicious platform to delve into the expansive prospects for collaboration. This article explores the key highlights of the meeting and underscores the shared commitment of both leaders to bolster political dialogue, trade relations, and cultural exchange.
Spanning a wide range of areas, the discussions between President Tokayev and Prime Minister Orban centered on the state of Kazakh-Hungarian relations and the potential for their further development. With a particular focus on strengthening political ties, the leaders expressed a mutual interest in deepening trade and economic cooperation, as well as fostering cultural and humanitarian exchange.
Prime Minister Orban reciprocated President Tokayev’s warm words, emphasizing the deep historical bond shared between the two nations. He acknowledged the joint efforts made in the past decade to nurture strong bilateral cooperation, citing the inception of mutual benefits. Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation, the Prime Minister affirmed Hungary’s commitment to continuing its role as a reliable strategic partner of Kazakhstan.
Highlighting the myriad possibilities for collaboration, both leaders expressed a keen interest in developing ties across sectors such as energy, transport, logistics, metallurgy, manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food industry, and tourism. They acknowledged the robust institutional foundation that sets the stage for further strengthening of ties, underscoring the importance of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Business Council in advancing trade relations.
With an eye toward the future, President Tokayev expressed confidence in driving bilateral trade turnover to reach $1 billion in the near future. Despite geopolitical tensions, the leaders highlighted the remarkable increase of over 20% in trade turnover in the previous year, a testament to the untapped potential that the Kazakh and Hungarian economies hold.
The need for enhanced inter-parliamentary exchanges was also underscored during the meeting. Emphasizing the importance of friendship groups in both countries’ parliaments, President Tokayev and Prime Minister Orban explored avenues for closer cooperation within key international platforms such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
Enriching cultural ties was a focal point of President Tokayev’s remarks, as he announced the naming of one of Astana’s streets in honor of Sándor Petőfi, the renowned national poet of Hungary. Such gestures exemplify the commitment to deepening cultural understanding and fostering people-to-people connections between Kazakhstan and Hungary.
To commemorate the occasion, President Tokayev presented Prime Minister Orban with the prestigious Order of Dostyk (Friendship) of the first degree, a symbol of the longstanding bond and shared aspirations for an even stronger partnership.
As the meeting drew to a close, a memorandum of understanding in education was signed, further solidifying the commitment to long-term collaboration and the cultivation of human capital.
The Kazakh-Hungarian summit, characterized by genuine warmth and shared ambitions, has set a strong foundation for the future of bilateral relations. President Tokayev and Prime Minister Orban’s commitment to political dialogue, economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and collaboration on various international platforms reflects a steadfast dedication to strengthening ties between Kazakhstan and Hungary. With great optimism, both nations are poised to embark on a collective journey, fuelled by mutual respect and shared prosperity.
Market Capital Research 