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MINSK, 17 March (BelTA) – Belarus and Hungary will bolster cooperation in agriculture and food processing. The matter was discussed during the meeting between Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The list of priority cooperation fields also includes pharmaceutical industry, machine building, innovations, telecommunications, construction, and tourism. “The parties also discussed ways to strengthen financial and investment cooperation and build stronger ties between banks,” the press service added.

Besides, the ministers talked over the state and prospects of bilateral relations, the interaction between Belarus and Hungary in international organizations, and the Belarus-EU dialogue. “The emphasis was placed on trade, economic, and investment cooperation,” the press service noted.

The parties signed a program for cooperation between the ministries of foreign affairs of Belarus and Hungary. The document provides for implementation of a number of specific activities, and is a kind of a roadmap for the near-term development of relations.

The ministers also attended the solemn opening of the traveling exhibition Belarus and Belarusians at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The exhibition was organized by the National History Museum of Belarus.

Vladimir Makei paid an official visit to Hungary on 16 to 17 March. The program of the visit featured a meeting with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen. The parties discussed ways to intensify economic, humanitarian, and cultural ties between Belarus and Hungary.

The Belarusian diplomat also met with Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary and Head of the Belarus-Hungary interparliamentary friendship group Sandor Lezsak to talk over the ways to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation. Vladimir Makei held a number of meetings with Hungarian businessmen interested in establishing cooperation with Belarus.