Hungary is offering fully-fledged state scholarships for five students from Brunei Darussalam to pursue English language courses at Hungarian universities, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, who was on an official visit to the Sultanate, told the Bulletin.
“As the first Hungarian foreign minister to visit the Sultanate with no real traditional cooperation, the best way to start building cooperation is through people-to-people contact.
We signed an agreement on Thursday and Hungary will provide the scholarship from next year,” Szijjártó said.
The minister added that the two countries discussed the possibility of expanding trade.
“We have had a good track record since 2010 and increased our trade seven times after the present Hungarian government took office. We also discussed food industry products and agricultural technologies. Hungary has very strict food security regulations.”
He added that as Brunei is rich in oil, it can take advantage of Hungarian enhanced oil recovery, an oil exploitation technology which is more effective and environmental friendly.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam also received Szijjártó in an audience on Thursday.
“I’m from a country in the neighbourhood of Ukraine and we have been living in the shadow of a war for over two years. We are absolutely in favour of a peaceful solution,” the minister said.
“There is no solution to the war on the battlefield. The only solution is on the negotiating table. We urge for a diplomatic solution.
“I was delighted to hear that Brunei agrees with our position. We see that both countries belong to the global majority which wants peace and believe in diplomatic solutions. The channels of communication must be kept open in every direction,” he said.
On bilateral ties between Brunei and Hungary, the minister said, “I met my Brunei colleagues in Brussels, Belgium for the first time in February this year, during the margins of the European Union (EU)-Indo Pacific meeting. We’ve decided to build a mutually respectful and beneficial relationship.”
Szijjártó added that Hungary takes over the EU presidency on July 1 this year, for a duration of six months.
“Hungary has different positions on many issues compared with the European mainstreams. We are more conservative and patriotic. There are many similarities between Brunei and Hungary such as a conservative approach of family.
“One of our goals is for stronger cooperation between EU and ASEAN as this region has growth potential. This region is emerging very rapidly and a lot of advantages can be reaped if we cooperate well.
“We have clear intentions to restart negotiations on partnership and cooperation between EU and Brunei and restart postponed agreement,” the minister said. “Brunei is also taking over the coordinating country role of the EU-ASEAN cooperation. We also respect Brunei government’s approach in the fight on nuclear cooperation which Hungary is on the same page with Brunei.
“We attach a lot of significance to the ASEAN region,” the minister said, adding that he will visit Jakarta, Vientiane, Manila and Kuala Lumpur next month. – Azlan Othman
