Budapest Determined to Deepen Cooperation

A senior Hungarian official said the European country is determined to boost its wide-ranging cooperation with Tehran, believing the current level of relations is not proportionate to the two countries' capacities.

"The early establishment of a joint commission of the two countries can accelerate this process, particularly in the economic sector," he said.

The speaker of Hungarian National Assembly, Laszlo Kover, made the statement in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Saturday, IRNA reported.

The top lawmaker said improved banking and energy collaboration is of high importance to Hungary, as well as cultural and scientific relations.

"Closer cultural and scientific cooperation will be a profitable investment to strengthen bonds of friendship between the two nations," he said.

Kover stressed the need for the contribution of all countries to the global anti-terror fight, saying Budapest is ready to work with Tehran in this regard.

Rouhani said the two countries should exploit the opportunities that arose in the wake of the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers to take their relations to a higher level.

"The foreign policy of the incumbent administration is based on expansion of relations with friends, including those in the European Union," he said.

The president said the two countries' private sectors should be pioneers to develop cooperation, noting that they should first become fully aware of opportunities and capacities of the two states.

"Iran's enhanced capabilities in technical and engineering sectors and Hungary's capacities in the industrial and agricultural fields have prepared the ground for better Tehran-Budapest ties," he said.

Pointing to Iran's impressive scientific progress in recent years, Rouhani said the two countries can also work to benefit from the nuclear energy for civilian applications.

Also on Saturday, Kover sat down for talks with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani.

After the meeting they held a joint press conference, in which they said they mainly discussed efforts to improve economic cooperation and bilateral trade.

Kover, heading a Hungarian parliamentary delegation, started his official visit to Tehran on Wednesday at the invitation of Larijani.

In recent days, the Hungarian delegation has paid a visit to the cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, where it met high-ranking city officials.

Kover was also expected to hold talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia.