The good personal and trust-based relationship between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and US President Donald Trump can serve as a good basis for strengthening bilateral economic relations, Donald Trump Jr, the US president’s eldest son, stated at this closed-door business forum in Budapest.

He said that while in the past the central-eastern European region had often been looked down on, today Hungary and the other countries in the region presented a far more favourable picture compared with western Europe.

The executive vice president of the Trump Organization, who visited Budapest at the invitation of businessman Zoltan Aczel, said this was likely because the governments in the region pursued reasonable policies that served the interests of the people.

Fielding questions from businesspeople, Trump Jr said Hungary’s geographical location made it a bridge between the East and the West. He said Hungarians were willing to stand up for their values, in which they had the support of the country’s strong leadership.

Concerning bilateral ties, he said the Biden administration had often been hostile to Viktor Orban’s government because of its patriotic policies and support for Donald Trump.

He said the US had to recognise investment opportunities in Hungary and the rest of the region, but it was important for for the initiative to come from both sides. He added that he saw opportunities for cooperation in the pharmaceuticals and tech sectors.

Trump Jr underlined the importance of the role of commerce chambers in exploring opportunities for cooperation and establishing business ties, saying they could help US players better understand the opportunities on the Hungarian market.

- PM Orbán met Donald Trump Jr last June, for details of that visit to Budapest see here.

Meanwhile, Hungary, United States to focus on economic, business cooperation - state secretary

Cooperation between Hungary and the United States will focus on economy and business in future, building on strong political ties, Levente Magyar, a state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told MTI on Thursday, after a meeting with Christopher Landau, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, in Washington, D.C.

"Instead of an ideology- and politically-based cooperation," Magyar said the sides had agreed that they would "focus on economy and business in the coming years". That cooperation could produce "tangible results" in the area of energy in the short term, he added.

The U.S. government sees Hungary as an "important European partner", he said, adding that preparations were discussed for a meeting, in person, between U.S. President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss a "rich bilateral agenda that will define our relations in the coming years".

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.