President Park Geun-hye and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed to strengthen their partnership during a bilateral summit on November 28 in Seoul.
In a joint press conference after the summit at Cheong Wa Dae, President Park said, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Hungary and it is also the 25th anniversary of Korea's Northern Diplomacy. Hungary was the first Eastern Bloc nation to establish diplomatic ties with Korea. This makes the Hungarian prime minister's visit more meaningful."
"The beginning of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Hungary in 1989 became a stepping stone for Korea to expand its Northern Diplomacy," the president.
"Korea and Hungary discussed detailed plans to boost actual cooperation," said the president. "Since the beginning of our diplomatic relationship, our bilateral trade has increased 40 fold and over the past five years Korea's investment in Hungary hit a five-year high in 2013. We both appreciate the fact that cooperation in economics and trade has increased very much."
Regarding North Korea's nuclear ambitions, Park said, "We, the two leaders, reaffirmed our consistent, firm principle that we will never allow North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. We agreed to make efforts to encourage North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and to become a responsible member of the international community."
President Park then thanked Hungary for its active support for South Korea's efforts at peaceful reunification and its good-neighbor policy.
Prime Minister Orban said he is very proud that Hungary was the first Eastern Bloc nation to start a diplomatic relationship with Korea.
"Regarding North Korea-related issues, we are going to fully support South Korea's stance," said the prime minister. "Hungary will show the same stance in the international diplomatic arena."
In terms of expanding economic cooperation, Prime Minister Orban said, "I hope that not only large Korean companies but also small Korean companies show an interest in doing business in Hungary. We also have decided to build an active, cooperative relationship in terms of national innovation."
In addition, the two nations agreed to expand cooperation in other areas, including science and technology, small- and medium-sized enterprises, national defense and the defense industry. The two leaders acknowledged the fact that joint research between Korea and Hungary has led to the development of technologies to develop and commercialize graphene-based semiconductors, ever since research started in 2009.
They also agreed to expand cooperation between small- and medium-enterprises in the two nations through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on technology and finance. They decided to cooperate on the defense industry, too, including Hungary's plan to purchase Korea-made helicopters.
The two nations also signed an MOU to encourage the exchange of students and to promote mutual cooperation between professionals in the two nations through state scholarship programs for students. Hungary agreed to participate in the seventh World Water Forum to be held in Korea in 2015 and to cooperate on establishing a new Post-2020 Climate regime.
In addition, Prime Minister Orban gave President Park a map as a present. The map, produced in the 1750s, clearly shows the East Sea (Mer de Coree), Dokdo Island (Chian San Tau) and Ulleungdo Island (Fang Ling Tau).
The map was produced by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, a renowned French map producer in the mid-18th century. Bellin, a hydrographer for the French government, produced many maps over 50 years.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr
In a joint press conference after the summit at Cheong Wa Dae, President Park said, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Hungary and it is also the 25th anniversary of Korea's Northern Diplomacy. Hungary was the first Eastern Bloc nation to establish diplomatic ties with Korea. This makes the Hungarian prime minister's visit more meaningful."
"The beginning of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Hungary in 1989 became a stepping stone for Korea to expand its Northern Diplomacy," the president.
President Park Geun-hye (right) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pose for a photo during the prime minister's official visit to Korea on November 28.
"Korea and Hungary discussed detailed plans to boost actual cooperation," said the president. "Since the beginning of our diplomatic relationship, our bilateral trade has increased 40 fold and over the past five years Korea's investment in Hungary hit a five-year high in 2013. We both appreciate the fact that cooperation in economics and trade has increased very much."
Regarding North Korea's nuclear ambitions, Park said, "We, the two leaders, reaffirmed our consistent, firm principle that we will never allow North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. We agreed to make efforts to encourage North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and to become a responsible member of the international community."
President Park then thanked Hungary for its active support for South Korea's efforts at peaceful reunification and its good-neighbor policy.
Prime Minister Orban said he is very proud that Hungary was the first Eastern Bloc nation to start a diplomatic relationship with Korea.
"Regarding North Korea-related issues, we are going to fully support South Korea's stance," said the prime minister. "Hungary will show the same stance in the international diplomatic arena."
President Park Geun-hye (right) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban shake hands before their summit on November 28 in Seoul.
In terms of expanding economic cooperation, Prime Minister Orban said, "I hope that not only large Korean companies but also small Korean companies show an interest in doing business in Hungary. We also have decided to build an active, cooperative relationship in terms of national innovation."
President Park Geun-hye (second from right) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discuss plans to strengthen economic cooperation during a summit at Cheong Wa Dae on November 28.
In addition, the two nations agreed to expand cooperation in other areas, including science and technology, small- and medium-sized enterprises, national defense and the defense industry. The two leaders acknowledged the fact that joint research between Korea and Hungary has led to the development of technologies to develop and commercialize graphene-based semiconductors, ever since research started in 2009.
They also agreed to expand cooperation between small- and medium-enterprises in the two nations through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on technology and finance. They decided to cooperate on the defense industry, too, including Hungary's plan to purchase Korea-made helicopters.
The two nations also signed an MOU to encourage the exchange of students and to promote mutual cooperation between professionals in the two nations through state scholarship programs for students. Hungary agreed to participate in the seventh World Water Forum to be held in Korea in 2015 and to cooperate on establishing a new Post-2020 Climate regime.
President Park Geun-hye (left) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban talk about an ancient map of the Korean Peninsula given as a present by the prime minister on November 28.
Dokdo and Ulleungdo islands can be seen on a map given as a present by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In addition, Prime Minister Orban gave President Park a map as a present. The map, produced in the 1750s, clearly shows the East Sea (Mer de Coree), Dokdo Island (Chian San Tau) and Ulleungdo Island (Fang Ling Tau).
The map was produced by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, a renowned French map producer in the mid-18th century. Bellin, a hydrographer for the French government, produced many maps over 50 years.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr
