Selaković: Serbia and Hungary are two friendly and fraternal countries

At a joint press conference, Selaković pointed out that the establishment of a strategic partnership between Serbia and Hungary is the crown of relations which are developing rapidly and which are a true example of good neighborly cooperation and orientation towards the future.

The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that the content of the dialogue between our two countries is imbued with personal trust and the relationship that exists between President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Selaković pointed out that today's meeting with his Hungarian colleague Szijjártó is the sixth in less than a year, and that they should see each other even more often because it is good for the relations between the two countries.

On this occasion, he reminded of a number of infrastructure projects in the field of railways and energy that were launched in the past period between Serbia and Hungary.

"On the one hand, we talked and we will talk about deepening economic cooperation. We expect that for the first time this year, the level of trade will exceed two billion euros. For us, when it comes to EU members, Hungary is the third partner after Germany and Italy, but with a tendency of constant growth", Selaković stated.

According to him, it is important for Serbia that our exports to Hungary increased by 41 percent in the first nine months of this year.

Selaković added that the number of Hungarian companies operating in Serbia is constantly increasing, and that it shows how much the two economies are connected and how much good political relations contribute to the intensification of economic cooperation.

As he pointed out, the support that Hungary provides to Serbia on its European path was also discussed at the meeting.

"Once again, I thank my dear friend for the firm and undoubted support that Hungary, but he personally and Prime Minister Orban as well, provide to Serbia's European path. The fact that Hungary is promoting Serbia everywhere as a key country in the Western Balkans, in terms of political stability, economic development and the impact on peace and stability in the entire region, is something that is extremely important for us", Selaković emphasized.

Minister Szijjártó stated that the relations between Hungary and Serbia can be characterized as friendly, from which both nations benefit.

Szijjártó emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries in combating illegal migration, and added that Hungarian police officers are participating in the protection of Serbia's southern borders.

The Hungarian Minister paid special attention to the railway connection between the two countries, specifying that the Hungarian section on the Budapest-Belgrade high-speed rail line will be completed by 2025, and that the section on the Szeged-Subotica route will be completed by the end of 2022.

Szijjártó expressed satisfaction with the intensification of economic cooperation with Serbia, specifying that the trade exchange between Serbia and Hungary has increased by 39 percent so far this year, and that the value of Hungarian investments in Serbia is growing.

Szijjártó referred to the collocation agreement, stating that based on it, Hungarian diplomatic representatives have already started working at the Serbian Embassy in Zambia, and that they will be present in the Democratic Republic of Congo from next year, while Serbian diplomats will work from Hungarian embassies in Malta and Chile.

"All this serves the interests of both countries and clearly shows trust between the two countries, bearing in mind that a joint diplomatic mission can only be created with countries we trust, and this also contributes to the international success of both countries", Szijjártó said.