Ukraine, Hungary to develop trade and border infrastructure

Ukraine and Hungary intend to focus on the development of trade relations and border infrastructure.

This was discussed during the meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Budapest, the press service of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry informs.

In particular, the interlocutors underscored the mutual interest in building friendly and good neighbourly relations, as well as the willingness to open a "new page of bilateral partnership."

"I handed over a draft joint memorandum between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, which is proposed to be signed during their meeting. I also suggested implementing a large joint project - to complete construction of a modern hospital in the town of Berehovo [Zakarpattia region, western Ukraine] under the auspices of the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Hungary," Kuleba said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the ministers paid special attention to cooperation in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The foreign ministers also discussed specific opportunities to increase Ukraine's investments in Hungary and Hungary’s investments in Ukraine, to help strengthen positions on the markets of both countries.

The ministers paid special attention to the development of border infrastructure.

During the visit, the parties signed a protocol between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Hungary amending the framework agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Hungary on the provision of tied aid loan and a memorandum of understanding between the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology of Hungary.

Kuleba's visit to Budapest was the first foreign visit since his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

In 2019, Ukraine-Hungary trade turnover totalled USD 2.8 billion dollars.

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