ASEAN and Hungary have agreed to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation, said a press release issued by the ASEAN Secretariat on Thursday. It was followed by a meeting between ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktoa Orban and Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi in Budapest on Wednesday. Orban said Hungary wants to tighten its connection with ASEAN and East Asia, affirming commitments to promoting closer cooperation with ASEAN members and all East Asian countries.

Pitsuwan pointed out that Hungary’s transformation from a socialist economy to a free market economy will provide lessons for ASEAN member states, and a closer cooperation between the two sides will bring benefits not just to Hungary but to all of Europe. The ASEAN Secretary General was confident the Asia-Europe Summit to be held in early October in Vientiane will be a great opportunity for top leaders from the two continents to explore potential areas of cooperation.