The two countries can cooperate in water management, the fight against the threat of climate change affecting agriculture and in infocommunications and IT, Áder said in a joint statement with Cosgrove.

Hungary and Australia are involved in a programme where they work together and the two countries consider it a joint responsibility to prepare useful solutions for the water crisis that threatens the world, he said. Australia has significant experience in water management and launched an initiative several years ago to handle the effects of climate change.

This had an especially important effect on agriculture, Áder said. It is also important for Australia to provide sufficient water for mining and manufacturing considering that minerals represent one of the most important area of exports, he added.

Australia plans to boost its exports to regions beyond Asia and increase the focus on services. The European Union and Hungary are likely to benefit from this, so the opportunity should be utilised, Áder said. He also highlighted the importance of bilateral scientific cooperation and said Cosgrove’s visit could significantly help this further improve.

He noted that Cosgrove was the first Australian governor-general to visit Hungary. Cosgrove said he was looking forward to the strengthening of bilateral relations and welcomed the opening of a Hungarian foreign trade office in Sydney.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Bruzák Noémi