“The young generation should be taskedto promote fine bilateral relations which have been built up over thepast 60 years,” said Hungarian Minister Counselor to Vietnam , VaraljaiMarton, at a ceremony celebrating the 60th anniversary ofVietnam-Hungary diplomatic ties in Ho Chi Minh City on Feb. 3.
He said that in addition to 35 million USD in Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA), Hungary would continue offering Vietnam some 500,000euros each year to educate students in natural sciences, health care,agriculture and technology.
At the occasion, Marton spoke highly of Vietnam’s increasinglyimportant role in the region and in the world as well as the nation’sefforts to build a market economy and a new legal foundationfacilitating investment and international economic cooperation.
Le Minh Triet, Chairman of the municipal Vietnam-Hungary FriendshipAssociation, thanked Hungary for helping Vietnam train over 4,000people and said he hoped the relationship would continue expanding toall fields, bringing about practical benefits for the two nations.
Vietnam-Hungary trade grew 34.5 percent on a yearly average in the2005-2007 period, hitting a record 100 million USD in 2008. Hungarymostly imports agricultural products, leather shoes, utensils andelectronics from Vietnam. Hungarian businesses are investing intourism, information technology, healthcare, real estate, wastetreatment and environment protection in Vietnam.