Azerbaian, Baku, Oct. 20 / Trend S. Agayeva /
"There are enough opportunities to form a deeper Azerbaijani-Hungarian partnership," Azerbaijani ambassador to Hungary Vilayat Guliyev said at an interview with Trend.
Mr. Guliyev went on: "The Hungarian President's visits to such countries as Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, scheduled for November are based on those interests and the desire to establish closer ties with the East from the cultural and economic points of view."
This was the ambassador's first visit to Azerbaijan since its independence. He said: "During this coming visit, Hungarian President Pál Schmitt will be accompanied by a large delegation consisting of a number of state and governmental officials, as well as Hungarian entrepreneurs from various fields.
Mr. Guliyev said: "I hope that this visit will be quite useful in terms of determining the priority areas of bilateral relations and prospects for partnership. This visit is another confirmation of the growing prestige of our country in the world."
Hungarian President Pal Schmitt will visit Azerbaijan on November 10 to 12. The second meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation and forums for the business community in the two countries are also planned to be held within the visit.
The diplomat stressed that there are enough possibilities to form more intensive Azerbaijani-Hungarian partnership in economics, science and culture and creating and strengthening the international security system. Moreover, the traditional friendly relations and the president's political will simplify the implementation of these tasks, he added.
"The Hungarian side is ready to discuss such issues as telecommunications between the capitals of two countries and the opening of the Hungarian embassy in Baku to encourage relations," Mr. Guliyev said. "Both sides have enough desire and energy. It is now important to transform this into concrete projects."
Mr. Guliyev said that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary amounted to $9.912 million for the first six months of this year. About $9.91 million are imports whilst $0.002 million, exports.
During the reporting period, Hungary's share in Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover amounted to 0.06 per cent, including imports at 0.23 per cent. Foreign trade turnover increased by 2.6 between the two countries including imports, by 3,06 times compared to the first half of 2010.