ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and Hungary on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the continuation of 200 Scholarships for Pakistani Students in the Hungarian universities.
The MoU was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto and the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood in Islamabad.
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also present on the occasion.
Very grateful to Hungary for the offer of 200 scholarships for Pakistani students. Signed an agreement today with the visiting Foreign Minister of Hungary in the presence of Pakistan FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi pic.twitter.com/1rfaBCvEaZ
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 30, 2021
Meanwhile, addressing a joint news conference along with the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi after wide-ranging talks focusing on promoting trade and economic relations, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that we have taken decisions to improve our economic cooperation for the benefit of the two Countries.
Firstly, he said that we have established a credit line of US$ 84 million to serve the purpose of enhancement of business to business cooperation between the companies of two Countries.
The Hungarian foreign minister said that we are ready to provide US$ 50 million to Pakistan for the development of the agriculture, water, and food processing industry, with at least 50 percent participation of the Hungarian companies in these projects.
Peter Szijjarto also said that Hungary will continue to support Pakistan’s GSP plus status in the European Union. He called upon the European Union to fully support Pakistan’s anti-terrorism efforts, especially after NATO’s decision to pull out from Afghanistan.
The visiting dignitary said that that we need the stabilizing role of Pakistan in this region. He said that we should not allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists again after the NATO’s pullout.
The Hungarian foreign minister recognized the important role played by Pakistan in the Doha peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban.
In his remarks, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that 17 Hungarian Companies visiting Pakistan have expressed their interest for developing partnerships with companies in Pakistan. He said that today we signed a number of agreements including on dairy production and cybersecurity.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Hungary has expressed an interest in starting direct flights between the two Countries. It will enhance our people-to-people contacts and further promote business activity between the two Countries, he added.
The foreign minister said that both Pakistan and Hungary share identical views on FATF that it should not be used as a political tool but only serve the purpose of checking money laundering and terror financing.
Qureshi said that he next round of political consultations between the two Countries will be held in the Hungarian Capital Budapest.
