BUDAPEST: Hungary plans to strengthen relations with Central Asia not only on a national level but also on the level of the Visegrad group, Economy Minister Mihály Varga said on Sunday. For this reason, Hungary will initiate developing a V4-Central Asia cooperation platform, Varga told the press on the last day of his visit to Kazakhstan, after meeting counterpart Kairat Abdrakhmanov.
Good Hungarian-Kazakh relations are planned to be extended to regional level, Varga said, citing Abdrakhmanov that Kazakhstan would be a partner in this effort. Abdrakhmanov confirmed that Kazakhstan plans to maintain close economic and business cooperation with Hungary. The Kazakh-Hungarian agricultural fund has prepared three projects that could be launched in the near future. The Budapest-Astana direct air service started this week is expected to help strengthen business ties, Varga said. The Hungarian minister also said that both Hungary and Kazakhstan are part of China‘s Belt and Road Initiative. There are good opportunities for Kazakhstan to become an entry point for Chinese goods to Europe and Hungary to be an exit point for European goods to China once the necessary transport infrastructure is in place, he said.
