Vietnam energy efforts worthy of Hungary’s attention, says official

Budapest, October 9 (MTI) – Vietnam is an important partner for Hungary in the southeastern Asian region and the country’s energy security efforts deserve attention, Istvan Mikola, state secretary at the Foreign Ministry, said in Budapest today.

Mikola, who is in charge of security policy and international cooperation, met Urban Rusnak, the Secretary-General of the Brussels-based Energy Charter Secretariat, to discuss Hungary’s role in the Charter’s liaison programme in Hanoi.

The southeastern Asian region is an important target of the Energy Charter’s enlargement plans, which are in line with Hungary’s foreign policy aiming at an opening towards the east, Mikola said.

Hungary has already received over 200 experts from Vietnam, who are undergoing training at the education centre of Paks nuclear plant. The re-opening of the Hungarian Consulate-General in Ho Si Minh City next year is also likely to help strengthen relations with Vietnam, Mikola said, adding that Hungary plans to encourage Vietnam to join the Energy Charter.

The Energy Charter Liaison Embassies (ECLE) programme offers political support for the expansion of the Energy Charter through embassies in participant countries. The Energy Charter Treaty came into force in 1998, signed to date by 52 states, with the aim of helping international cooperation in the field of energy.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters