“Hungary would like develop a closer relationship than ever before with Brazil; in view of the fact that both countries have a very similar approach to global political issues, we must translate this exceptional political consensus into mutual economic advantages”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared on Tuesday evening in Brasilia at a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart Ernesto Araújo.
“Hungary and Brazil regard as similarly important the issue of security, stopping illegal migration, and the fact that everyone should respect sovereignty, and both also regard as important the protection of Christian communities throughout the world”, he stated.
The Minister explained that accordingly, in March the Hungarian Government adopted a proposal, a strategic plan on the fact that Budapest will be placing its system of relations with Brazil onto new foundations. “The foundations for this are good, in view of the fact that Brazil is Hungary’s second most important trade partner in South America”, he pointed out. “The newly concluded agreements on agricultural research, product accreditation and water-related cooperation will provide major assistance to enable existing cooperation between the two countries within the field of the economy to be drawn even closer”, he stated.
“Concerning the stability of bilateral relations, Hungary regards relations between people as important”, he declared. “In recent years over two thousand Brazilian students have attended Hungarian universities. 250 young Brazilians began their studies in Hungary this September. Hungarian language departments have opened at two Brazilian universities. A Hungarian cultural season will be held in Brazil next year”, the Minister said, listing the related measures. With relation to political cooperation within the United Nations, he said both countries reject the UN Global Compact for Migration, and regard it as an extremely dangerous document.
“We agree that it is the sovereign right of every country to decide who it allows onto its territory. It is the sovereign right of societies to decide who they want to coexist with, and the two countries also agree that we must prevent the Global Compact for Migration from being pushed through the UN system in a stealthy manner”, Mr. Szijjártó explained. “Brazil and Hungary agree that the sovereignty of individual countries must be respected in international organisations, and are taking joint action in the interests of protecting Christian communities”, he added.
Budapest is supporting Brazil’s bids for membership of the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council. “With relation to the persecution of Christians, we would like the whole international community to finally set aside its current hypocrisy, acknowledge that Christianity is the most persecuted religion on earth, and finally provide these communities with a suitable level of support”, The Hungarian Foreign Minister said.
During his visit to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Szijjártó first held bilateral talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, following which a session of the Brazil-Hungary Joint Economic Committee was held, co-chaired by the two ministers. At the meeting, a cooperation agreement was concluded between Hungary’s National Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation and its Brazilian partner institution, in addition to which the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade signed an agreement on outer space activities for peaceful purposes with Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication. Following the session of the Joint Economic Committee, Mr. Szijjártó and his delegation were received by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the presidential palace. During his visit to Brazil, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó also took part in a Brazil-Hungary business forum in Sao Paulo.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)
