Hungarian Prime Minister arrives

Hungarian PM Ferenc Gyurcsány.

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány is due to arrive in the capital today to kick off a four-day visit at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai.

The tour will include meetings in Hanoi with PM Khai, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, and a visit to HCM City .

It is hoped that the visit will increase multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations and accelerate the implementation of prior agreements in the fields of trade, investment, education and training.

Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$70mil last year, up from $63.8mil in 2003 and $53mil the previous year, and Hungary considers Vietnam an important partner in the Southeast Asian region.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1950, the two countries have enjoyed friendly and cooperative relations.

Vietnam exports textiles, leather goods and coffee to Hungary and imports pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

Hungary began providing official development assistance to Vietnam last year.

The two countries have signed agreements on avoidance of double taxation, investment encouragement and protection, legal assistance, anti-organised crime and a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation.

Other cooperation fields include security, culture and education.

(Source: Viet Nam News)