Media release
15 July, 2009
Meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister
Yesterday I met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balázs, while travelling en route to the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Egypt.
Hungary and Australia enjoy positive relations with strong people-to-people links. These links follow on the migration of large numbers of Hungarians to Australia last century. There are now approximately 67,000 people in Australia of Hungarian ancestry.
Mr Balázs and I exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, such as climate change, non-proliferation and disarmament and our joint work in Afghanistan. Hungary has 320 personnel deployed with the International Security Assistance Force and, like Australia, will contribute additional troops to support the upcoming elections in Afghanistan.
Hungary will take on the EU Presidency in the first half of 2011 and our meeting was a timely opportunity to discuss Australia's plans to further develop Australia-EU relations, building on the Australia-EU Partnership Framework launched last year.
Trade and investment relations with Hungary are growing, with Australian investment in Hungary increasing to over $415 million last year. There is particular interest from Australian companies in renewable and clean energy and the financial services sector. Mr Balázs and I discussed ways to enhance our economic and trade relationship, as well as the educational links between our two countries.
Our meeting also provided a good opportunity to discuss the upcoming visit by the President of Hungary, Dr László Sólyom, to Australia later this year.
Mr Balázs and I also welcomed the fact that negotiations towards a new bilateral Australia-Hungary Social Security Agreement commenced in Budapest this month and good progress has already been made.
This agreement, when finalised, will benefit the Hungarian-Australian community and Australians living in Hungary by ensuring access to pension entitlements.
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