At a joint press conference after the meeting, Orbán called Vietnam a leading country in the Far East, and said that Vietnam’s example has proven that “a country can be -- and perhaps can only be -- successful if it builds a social, political and economic system which most fits its own culture”.

Orbán said that the world’s largest countries are striving to build an alliance with Vietnam and “there are more and more of us that are interested in Vietnam’s success”.

He added that Hungary was interested in an early conclusion of free trade talks between Vietnam and the European Union. Orbán noted that Hungar y had launched a 500 million euro loan programme in 2016, and said that the scheme could be instrumental in “building a modern Vietnam in such areas as health, education, water supplies or farming”.

The talks also touched upon opportunities in tourism, promoting mutual investment projects, as well as Hungary’s scholarship programme under which 200 Vietnamese students are offered courses at Hungarian universities, as well as plans to open a Hungarian cultural representation in the Vietnamese capital.

Nguyen Phu Trong called for comprehensive partnership between the two countries. He said the talks were “extremely successful and conducted in a friendly, trustful atmosphere”. The two leaders agreed to boost the countries’ cooperation and simplify the investment environment.

Vietnam “is working to use well” the Hungarian government’s grants offered for Vietnamese students at Hungarian universities, he said. Vietnam supports Hungary’s aim to widen cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and strives for stronger ties with the EU, he said.

MTI Photo: Koszticsák Szilárd