"Hungary Poised to Become European Pillar of East-West Bridge" + video

At the summit of the Organization of Turkic States, Hungary's foreign affairs and trade minister pressed for global cooperation to avoid the forming of blocs.

Szijjártó Péter külgazdasági és külügyminiszter megérkezik a Türk Államok Szervezete (TÁSZ) külügyminiszteri szintű találkozójára érkezik Asztanában 2023. november 3-án (Fotó: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter)

Europe's steps point in the direction of a repeated formation of blocs, he said, noting that Central Europe does not want this, as the region always came off badly whenever there was a conflict between East and West, and  stressing that connectivity and global cooperation are needed instead.

If there is a champion of this, it is the Organization of Turkic States. A bridge must be built between East and West, and Hungary is ready to become its European pillar

he said.

Hungary is interested in strengthening OTS and enhancing its achievements, and has decided to contribute with € 100 million to the Turkic Investment Fund, which has great potentials, Hungary's foreign minister announced. He welcomed the setting up of the Green Finance Council, stressing that Hungary considers sustainable growth important and noted that Hungary is one of those states that is able to expand its economic performance while reducing its emissions. He added that Budapest will host the next expert meeting of the transport connectivity project at the end of November.

He highlighted that the government encourages Hungarian companies to make investments in OTS  countries, and called it a great success that the Hungarian gas and oil company  MOL will start extracting natural gas in Kazakhstan this year.

Hungary is ready to join the joint civil protection mechanism as well.

Cover photo: Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto arrives at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Astana on November 3, 2023 (Source: Facebook/Peter Szijjarto)