National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn welcomes Hungary's NA Speaker László Kövér. VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn affirmed that Việt Nam always attaches great importance to and wishes to further strengthen its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Hungary, Việt Nam’s first comprehensive partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

He made the statement on Monday while holding talks with Hungarian National Assembly Speaker László Kövér, who is leading a high-level Hungarian parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Việt Nam from October 18–22 at the invitation of NA Chairman Mẫn. The talks took place following an official welcome ceremony.

Chairman Mẫn stressed that Speaker Kövér’s visit was of great significance as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Hungary (1950–2025). He noted that the visit contributed to further consolidating the traditional friendship between the two nations and enhancing cooperation between their legislative bodies.

The Vietnamese top legislator highlighted the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries, recalling that Hungary was among the first ten nations to establish diplomatic ties with Việt Nam. He emphasised that Việt Nam always remembered and deeply appreciated Hungary’s valuable support during the country’s struggles for national independence and reunification, as well as its ongoing development and nation-building efforts today.

For his part, Speaker Kövér remarked that although the two countries are geographically distant and differ in culture and history, few nations had such a close relationship with Hungary as Việt Nam.

He noted that the two sides still had vast potential for cooperation in economics, trade, investment, tourism, education and training. He affirmed that under Hungary’s Eastern Opening foreign policy, Việt Nam was regarded as its most important priority partner in Southeast Asia and that Hungary wished to deepen bilateral ties across all fields.

Speaker Kövér also expressed his belief that the upcoming 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam would be a great success, ushering the country into a new era of development, prosperity and strength.

During their talks, the two leaders exchanged information on the situation in each country and on the operations of their respective parliaments. They highly valued the positive progress in bilateral relations in recent years, reflected through regular high-level meetings and exchanges as well as dynamic cooperation between the two legislatures.

The two sides have maintained frequent exchanges between NA leaders, committees and friendship parliamentary groups and have closely coordinated at regional and international parliamentary forums, especially within the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening contacts and delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level ones, through Party, State, Government and parliamentary channels as well as people-to-people exchanges. These efforts aim to reinforce political trust and mutual understanding, forming a solid foundation for promoting and expanding bilateral cooperation in all areas.

They also agreed to deepen collaboration in science and technology, education and training, natural resources and the environment, healthcare, culture and tourism.

Discussing cooperation between the two parliaments, Chairman Mẫn briefed his counterpart on the main outcomes of the 10th session of the 15th NA, which had just opened on Monday. He underscored the importance of legislative cooperation in strengthening overall bilateral relations.

Both sides consented to enhance exchanges between high-level NA leaders, specialised committees and friendship parliamentary groups to share information and experience in legislative activities. They agreed to work together in supervising, urging and supporting the effective implementation of high-level agreements and commitments, and concurred on the main theme of the sixth legislative seminar between the two parliaments, scheduled for the first half of 2026.

The two sides also pledged to intensify coordination and mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

During the talks, both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) and of settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Chairman Mẫn also urged the Hungarian Parliament and authorities at all levels to continue facilitating the integration and stable life of the Vietnamese community in Hungary.

Following the talks, Speaker Kövér and the Hungarian delegation attended the 10th session of the 15th NA as observers. Later in the day, Chairman Mẫn hosted an official banquet in honour of Speaker Kövér and the high-level Hungarian parliamentary delegation. — VNS