Islamabad
Pakistan and Hungary have expressed the desire to further strengthen cooperation in economic and trade, investment, industry, agriculture, water resource management, information technology, energy, healthcare and pharmaceutical, sports, culture, education and parliamentary exchanges.
This desire was expressed by the two sides during the fifth round of Pakistan-Hungary Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) held in Budapest.
The Pakistan side was led by Dr Muhammad Tariq, additional secretary (Europe); while Laszlo Varadi, deputy secretary for state cooperation, with South led the Hungarian side. Muhammad Aejaz, ambassador of Pakistan to Hungary, also attended the meeting.
The exchange of views covered the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including matters relating to political, economic and trade, culture, defence and people-to-people contacts.
The two sides also reviewed the recent developments in bilateral relations and explored the way forward to enhance cooperation in diverse fields.
A review of regional and international issues of mutual interest such as the situation in Afghanistan and the Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) was part of the parleys.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current pace of cooperation after the Hungary-Pakistan Trade and Economic Window (HPTEW) launched in March 2021, and the first Hungary-Pakistan Business Forum inaugurated by the two foreign ministers, as well as the subsequent visit of Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó to Pakistan in April 2021.
Dr Tariq emphasised the importance of regular high-level exchanges to boost linkages in the areas of mutual interests.
The additional secretary also highlighted the measures taken by the government of Pakistan to attract international tourism and bring foreign investment in the country.
He briefed the Hungarian side on Pakistan’s positive role in facilitating the peace efforts with the aim at promoting an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.
The additional secretary also apprised the Hungarian side about the grave human rights violations being committed by India in IIOJK, and underlined that India had vitiated the atmosphere by taking the illegal and unilateral step of August 5, 2019, and stressed that the onus was on India to create an enabling environment for engagement and result-oriented dialogue.
Dr Tariq also called on Minister of State for Public Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dr Csaba Balogh and underscored the commitment of Pakistan’s leadership to further deepen relations with Hungary in diverse fields.
Besides, the additional secretary also met Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy Marton Schoberil and exchanged views on the promotion of cultural relations between the two countries.
Subsequently, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on “Cultural Cooperation” between Pakistan and Hungary for 2021/23.. —TLTP
