Speaker: Uzbekistan key partner for Hungary

Thanks to Hungary’s policy of opening up to the East, bilateral political and economic cooperation is more active than ever before, Kover told Ismailov, according to a statement by parliament’s press chief.

Hungary supports Uzbekistan’s strategy for foreign policy opening and greatly appreciates its efforts to build good neighbourly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among Central Asian countries, Kover said.

“We welcome the now irreversible successful economic reforms under way in Uzbekistan and support their implementation,” the speaker said.

Kover expressed his thanks for the Uzbek government’s support for and assistance in the entry of Hungarian businesses onto Uzbekistan’s market, noting that the country was Hungary’s second most important Central Asian trading partner after Kazakhstan.

Kover and Ismailov were in agreement that bilateral ties could be further expanded in the areas of agriculture, the food industry, water management, the health and pharmaceutical industries as well as financial services. They also noted the opportunities in culture, education, cooperation between higher education institutions and tourism.

The speakers underlined the importance of boosting relations between friendship chapters, committees and official institutions.