Istanbul: Trkiye and Hungary on Monday signed agreements in fields including aviation, security, technology, culture, and education, as leaders of the two countries committed to strengthening their bilateral relations. Speaking at a joint news conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the countries' progress towards a $6 billion trade volume target.
According to Anadolu Agency, Orban traveled to Trkiye to participate in the seventh meeting of the Trkiye-Hungary High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Discussions included updating the trade volume target to $10 billion. Erdogan announced the implementation of 28 joint actions and the allocation of resources to joint projects in 2025, which has been designated as the Trkiye-Hungary Year of Science and Innovation.
The two nations have also agreed to establish a joint planning group led by their foreign ministries to address bilateral and global issues more systematically. Erdogan highlighted the importance of adapting to changing security conditions in Europe and mentioned potential projects, including joint production initiatives, to enhance defense industry cooperation.
The talks also covered regional and global matters, such as developments in the Middle East and Ukraine. Erdogan expressed appreciation for Budapest's contributions to the Organization of Turkic States, where Hungary holds observer status. He voiced confidence in Hungary's continued support for Trkiye's strategic goal of achieving full European Union membership.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Erdogan stated that Ankara has been actively seeking a just and lasting peace between the parties since the conflict's onset. He reaffirmed Trkiye's commitment to the principle that "there are no winners in war and no losers in a just peace."
Erdogan concluded by expressing his belief that the strategic council meeting will further strengthen the relations and deep-rooted bonds of friendship between the peoples of Trkiye and Hungary.