23.05.2024

Grand Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Hungary in Pavlodar

Pavlodar, May 23, 2024 - A solemn ceremony took place in the city of Pavlodar to mark the opening of the office of the Honorary Consul of Hungary. The Honorary Consul of Hungary in Pavlodar is the renowned state and public figure, Lieutenant General Adil Shayakhmetov Shayakhmetovich.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Kazakhstan, His Excellency O. Rona, noted that joint projects in economic, social, and cultural spheres are being rapidly implemented between our countries. "As you all know, Hungarians currently do not need a visa to travel to Kazakhstan. For us, this is a great opportunity to develop modern entrepreneurship and strengthen sustainable business relations in the Irtysh region and Northern Kazakhstan," the Ambassador said in his speech.

The Akim of the region, Asain Baikhanov, noted the trusting nature of the Kazakh-Hungarian strategic partnership and emphasized that this is the first honorary consulate in the Irtysh region. "You know that Kazakhstan and Hungary are united by common values and historical roots. We are grateful that Hungary became the first country in Central Europe where our embassy was opened," stated Adil Shayakhmetov.

The Honorary Consul also emphasized that Kazakhstan will continue to pursue a strategic course in its foreign policy and remain firmly committed to strengthening comprehensive cooperation with Hungary.

Adil Shayakhmetov congratulated the Ambassador on the 20th anniversary of Hungary's membership in the European Union. He expressed the opinion that the increasing authority of Budapest on the international stage and the confident growth of the Hungarian economy confirm the effectiveness of the current government's policies.

Reference:
Relations between Kazakhstan and Hungary are characterized as a strategic partnership. A solid legal framework, the successful activity of the Strategic Council, intergovernmental commissions on trade, economic, and legal cooperation, as well as inter-parliamentary friendship groups, contribute to the deepening of interaction between the two countries. Over more than a quarter of a century of partnership, trade and economic ties have actively developed, several joint economic projects have been successfully implemented, and a joint agricultural direct investment fund has been created. Among the major investors in our economy is the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL.

There are close historical ties between the two countries, as descendants of Kipchak tribes who migrated from the Turgay steppes to the territory of modern Hungary in the first half of the 13th century live in Hungary. Kazakh and Hungarian scholars show mutual interest in studying common historical roots. Joint archaeological research is being conducted to study the history of the settlement of the Kipchaks in Hungary and the Magyars in Kazakhstan.

Kazakh universities closely cooperate with leading Hungarian universities within the framework of the Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Human Resources of Hungary on cooperation in the field of education and science, signed on November 19, 2013. Each year, 250 Kazakh citizens receive grants to study at Hungarian universities under the "Hungaricum" scholarship program.

Today, artists, scholars, and athletes from both countries actively participate in various cultural and sports events held in Kazakhstan and Hungary. From August 12-14, 2022, Hungary hosted the next ethnofestival - the Great Kurultai of Turkic peoples and Magyars, attended by scholars, art historians, and public figures from Kazakhstan.

Overall, cultural and humanitarian relations are actively developing. This is facilitated by the historical closeness of the two peoples and their desire to revive national culture and traditions.