Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen underlined Hungary’s positive approach toward bolstering economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
Semjen, who was in Tehran at the head of a politico-economic delegation, made the statement during a meeting with Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Ali Amiri in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported.
“Budapest attaches considerable importance to its relations with Tehran, and in the light of the long history of good political and cultural ties between the two countries, we hope to develop Iran-Hungary economic cooperation,” he said. Semjen described the Hungarian government as a friend of the Islamic Republic and assured that Iran can always rely on these cordial dispositions.
“This visit, which is conducted by five Hungarian ministers and about 100 businessmen, has opened new horizons for future relations between the two countries, and we look forward to hosting President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif,” he said. Amiri pointed to the longstanding relations between the two nations and said the Iranian people hold a positive view about Hungary’s policies toward Iran.
“The Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Tehran last year and [a meeting of] the joint economic commission between the two countries brought a great collateral perspective into our relations,” he said.
In February, for the first time in more than two decades, Iran and Hungary set up a joint economic commission. During a trip to Budapest, Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia signed various documents with Hungarian officials to develop banking and other economic relations.
“We are keen on deepening political, parliamentary, economic and cultural relations with Hungary,” Amiri said.
Iran and Hungary have had friendly relations since ages and hold ties in a wide range of areas, including tourism, cultural heritage protection, science and education, health care and communications. The Iranian official said Iran has met its international obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers and hopes other signatories will fulfill their part since some countries are still trying to impede the implementation of the accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Semjen underlined that Hungary holds “profound respect for President Rouhani’s policies on developing relations with other countries, including Hungary,” and pointed to Budapest’s pivot to the East in which Iran is of great significance. He voiced Hungary’s dissent against western countries’ adverse approaches toward others, namely Iran and Russia, stating that “we have always been against sanctions, as we tried to hold talks with Iran even before JCPOA’s conclusion.”
Semjen shared his optimism that the implementation of JCPOA will help strengthen ties between the two sides to reach the desired level of economic, trade and banking cooperation. The Hungarian delegation, which arrived in Iran on Saturday, is scheduled to meet a number of Iranian senior officials and also visit a few provinces during their one-week stay.
