Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a congratulatory message to Japan’s new prime minister Yoshihide Suga; in this, he praised Hungarian-Japanese friendship which has evolved into strategic cooperation, and invited the Asian country’s leader to visit Budapest, Bertalan Havasi, the Deputy State Secretary heading the Press Office of the Prime Minister informed the Hungarian news agency MTI on Wednesday.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation from his position on 28 August with reference to his deteriorating state of health.

In his message to the new prime minister, Mr Orbán wrote he is proud that “our countries’ friendship dating back many long years has evolved into comprehensive and successful strategic cooperation as a result of the work of the past few years”. The Hungarian Prime Minister expressed his appreciation in connection with the fact that he was able to attend in person events of the joint commemoration held in Tokyo on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations.

He said he was convinced that despite the present global challenges, all the necessary means were available to further develop Hungarian-Japanese relations based on the foundations of mutual respect and trust.

“I’m happy that in your person I will be able to work together with an experienced and highly capable leader who is also committed – in addition to the development of his country – to respect for conservative values,” Mr Orbán wrote to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

He added that he looks forward with great anticipation to working together with the new prime minister, and sincerely hopes that “after thirty years, we will be able to welcome Japan’s prime minister to Budapest again. I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you, Prime Minister, to an official working visit to Hungary with which we could give Hungarian-Japanese relations a new impetus,” Mr Orbán wrote.

At the end of his message, he wrote he wishes Japan and Tokyo all the very best of luck with hosting the Olympic Games despite current difficulties, adding that he sincerely hopes that “we may celebrate a great many Japanese and Hungarian sports achievements in 2021”.

(The Prime Minister/MTI)