Skopje, 6 September 2024 (MIA) — Finding ways to support existing investments and encourage new ones was the focus of the meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski with Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said in a press release.

According to the MFAFT release, this was Minister Mucunski's first visit to Hungary.

"The meeting stressed the importance of the friendship between the two countries built on mutual trust and support both in multilateral relations and in economic cooperation, which will continue to develop and deepen in the future with a special emphasis on supporting existing and encouraging new investments," the release said.

Minister Mucunski thanked his Hungarian counterpart for Hungary's support to the country, including the recent loan as well as the great help in dealing with wildfires. At the same time, he shared information on the new competences of the foreign ministry, now structured similarly to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó expressed unequivocal support for the country's European integration, adding that the EU enlargement with the countries of the Western Balkans would revitalize the Union. He stressed that Hungary would continue supporting the country's accelerated integration process both during the Hungarian EU presidency and going forward.

As part of his first visit to Hungary, Minister Mucunski had a separate meeting with Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary István Jakab, who also chairs the parliamentary Hungary-South-East-European Friendship Group.

Their talks focused on opportunities for deepening cooperation in education, agriculture and tourism.

Mucunski expressed his gratitude for Hungary's continued support in the country's EU accession process and partnership in NATO while also stressing the new government's commitment to implementing European reforms.

Depouty Speaker Jakab welcomed the long-standing friendship between the two countries and nations, voicing confidence that Hungary would remain a strong supporter of the country's full EU membership, especially during the Hungarian EU Presidency.

During the visit, Elena Kuzmanovska, State Secretary in the MFAFT, had a separate meeting with Eszter Gyarmati, the State Secretary for Public Administration in Hungary's MFAT.

They discussed the reorganization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its transformation into a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, according to the MFAFT release. mr/