Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Hungary have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijani Embassy in Hungary said.

Vilayat Guliyev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Hungary held talks with Peter Sandor, Interior Minister and Istvan Tarlos, Budapest Mayor.

During the meeting the sides discussed the “Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Hungary”, which was signed in November, 2014 between President Ilham Aliyev and Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary.

They also touched upon the “Protocol on friendship and cooperation between the Baku City Executive Power and the Budapest City”, which was inked between Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov and Tarlos in November, 2014.

The ambassador also informed the officials about preparations underway for the first Baku European Games to be held in June.

As the biggest sporting event in Azerbaijan's history, the Baku 2015 European Games will attract more than 6,000 athletes to represent 49 countries in 20 sports.

There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016.

Hungary recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in April 1992.

Azerbaijan-Hungarian relations are developing successfully. There is a huge capacity for the development of trade and economic cooperation, as Hungarian companies consider the Azerbaijani market as an alternative to the Russian market, on the background of the certain EU sanctions. Hungary is also a good platform for Azerbaijani investors.

Moreover, the governments of both countries have expressed interest in increasing bilateral trade.

In 2013, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by nearly 40 percent up to 3.3 million.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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