Foreign Minister, Hungarian counterpart hold press conference

Manama, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister, and Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, held a joint press conference on the occasion of Minister Szijjártó's official visit to Bahrain. Dr. Al Zayani welcomed the Hungarian Foreign Minister and highlighted the steady growth in relations between Bahrain and Hungary across various sectors. He pointed out the shared desire of both nations to expand their cooperation, particularly following the visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Hungary in 2019, which paved the way for closer strategic ties. He also acknowledged the positive outcomes of the visit by Hungary's former President Katalin Novák to Bahrain earlier this year. Dr. Al Zayani said the talks with his counterpart discussed enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and economy. He underscored the importance of the Bahrain-Hungary Joint Economic Committee in achieving this goal, pointing to successful past meetings and the anticipation of future gath erings. The minister said the talks also addressed pressing regional and international issues, including the situation in Gaza and its humanitarian repurcussions. Dr. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid. Dr. Al Zayani said he briefed Minister Szijjártó on Bahrain's efforts, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, during its current presidency of the Arab Summit. He outlined the key initiatives from the Bahrain Declaration, which focus on strengthening Arab unity, promoting regional stability, and advocating for lasting peace. These include a call for an international peace conference to address the Palestinian issue, aiming to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Dr. Al Zayani also highlighted Bahrain's support for Palestine's full UN membership, as well as initiatives to provide essential services, such as education and healthcare, to those affected by conflict. He al so noted efforts to enhance Arab cooperation in areas like financial technology, innovation, and digital transformation. He said an agreement between Bahrain and Hungary was signed, aimed at promoting and protecting investments, with both foreign ministers signing on behalf of their respective countries. This agreement is designed to boost economic and trade opportunities and attract joint investments. It also supports Bahrain's ongoing efforts to create a favourable environment for attracting international investments. The minister said that Minister Szijjártó had several bilateral meetings with Bahraini officials. During these talks, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bahrain's Ministry of Education and Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, focusing on the "Stipendium Hungaricum" scholarship programme for 2024-2027. This initiative is part of Bahrain's strategy to invest in its people by offering students opportunities to study in Hungary. On his part, Minister Szijjárt ó expressed his pride in the growing relationship between Bahrain and Hungary, particularly appreciating Bahrain's support during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Bahrain played a role in facilitating the use of Chinese vaccines for Hungary. He emphasised the significance of the investment agreement, which provides legal protection for Hungarian businesses investing in Bahrain and vice versa. He added that several Hungarian investments are expected to be launched in Bahrain soon. Minister Szijjártó affirmed Hungary's commitment to peace, commending nations that stand for peaceful resolutions. He praised Bahrain's leading role in promoting stability and its signing of the Abraham Accords, highlighting the Kingdom's efforts to maintain regional peace. He said both sides agreed on the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and avoiding further escalation. He also highlighted the European Union's strong focus on expanding cooperation with the GCC. He added that Hungary, during its EU presidency , is keen to push this relationship forward, aiming to finalise a free trade agreement and resolve the Schengen visa issue for GCC citizens. He expressed optimism about the upcoming GCC-EU summit in October, expecting it to yield positive outcomes for peace and collaboration. Source: Bahrain News Agency