Qatar Key For Europe, Claims Orbán
- 23 May 2023 1:25 PM
- Hungary Matters
Qatar has been of crucial importance for Europe, since in the past year "a large part of the Russian gas missing from the European economy has been replaced by LNG from that country", Viktor Orbán said in a video published on Facebook.
The prime minister announced that Hungary would also buy gas from Qatar in future. Orbán arrived in Doha on an official visit on Sunday and is scheduled to address the Qatar Economic Forum.
In his video, he said he had held “long, comprehensive and successful talks” with the emir of Qatar. Orbán noted Qatar’s outstanding economic performance and its presence across the world.
He also said Qatar was “in the peace camp”, which had an interest in an urgent settlement of the war in Ukraine, adding that Qatar was willing to mediate in the interest of peace talks.
The prime minister said an agreement had been reached concerning Hungary’s gas purchases from Qatar, adding that “standing on several feet is better than on one foot”.
“We have seen eye to eye in infrastructure projects, airport development, cooperation in the communications industry … we even concluded agreements in agriculture,” he said. “Good perspectives have opened up for bilateral economic cooperation,” the prime minister said.
Economic Development Minister Has Talks in Qatar
Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al-Thani, Qatar’s minister of commerce and industry, in Qatar on Monday, his ministry said.
The ministers reviewed bilateral economic relations, with a focus on industry and trade cooperation and potential investment areas, the economic development ministry said in a statement.
They were in agreement that bilateral economic ties have been developing continuously in recent years and that this trend was set to continue. Trade turnover between the two countries increased by 24 percent last year, exceeding 76 million US dollars, the ministry said.
Nagy said Qatar was one of the fastest-developing countries in the Persian Gulf region, praising its “exemplary” growth in areas like the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the financial sector.
Qatar can also be a key partner to Hungary when it comes to ensuring its uninterrupted energy supply, he said. The parties were in agreement on the need to continue to boost bilateral economic ties and that the expansion of research and development and industry cooperation should be a priority, the ministry said.
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