“Singapore’s success is an encouragement for Hungary”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Tuesday in Singapore, at a joint press conference following his meeting with Prime Minister Li Hsien Loong.
Hungary has no major stocks of raw materials or natural resources, which means that “we will become what we can achieve through our efforts and intellectual capabilities”, Mr. Orbán said, adding that Singapore had also created a miracle from this: “from human resources, human spirit and innovation”.
“We regard Singapore as a country that did not copy someone else’s formula, but developed its own”, the Prime Minister said, stating that it is impressive that it is also possible to achieve success in the modern world “using your own formula”.
According to Mr. Orbán, there are several areas that provide further opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries than the current level of utilisation.
He indicated that Singapore has a larger investment capacity than the level it has shown so far in Hungary, although it already has several “respectable” investments in Hungary. He encourages companies from Singapore to invest in Hungary in greater numbers.
“Parallel to this, Hungary would also like to anticipate to a greater extent in the successes of Singapore’s economy”, the Prime Minister said, citing the water industry, agriculture, the IT sector and the pharmaceutical industry as possible areas for partnership.
Mr. Orbán also spoke about the fact that his Government holds Singapore’s stability in great esteem, because in his view the future belongs to those countries that will be stable with regard to both politics and the economy in the long term. “This is also the greatest challenge in Europe”, he added.
Prime Minister of Singapore Li Hsien Loong spoke about the fact that Hungary is an excellent gateway for Singapore into the European Union, and his country would like to serve as a similar gateway for Hungary towards the nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He highlighted the continuous increase in bilateral trade between Hungary and Singapore, adding: “Both governments assure the free trade agreement between Singapore and the European Union of their support”.
Prime Minister Loong expressed his hope that the agreements concluded at Tuesday’s meeting would further reinforce cooperation between the two countries.
Hungary and Singapore signed three inter-governmental agreements in the presence of the two prime ministers. Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták concluded an aviation agreement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó concluded an agreement on education, and Minister of Agriculture Sándor Fazekas signed a food safety agreement.
The Hungarian political and business delegation headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived for an official visit to Singapore directly from Vietnam. Mr. Orbán, who prior to his meeting with the Prime Minister also met with President of Singapore Halimah Yacob and on the final day of his tour of Southeast Asia on Wednesday will also be attending a Hungary-Singapore business forum, was received at the presidential palace with full military honours.
(MTI)