Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has announced that Egypt and Hungary have agreed to start exploratory talks to examine the possibility of utilizing Egypt's energy sector capabilities, particularly its natural gas transmission networks and liquefied natural gas reception and re-export facilities. This development was revealed during a joint press conference held by President El-Sisi and Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy in Budapest, following their discussions at the Hungarian Parliament building.
The talks between the two leaders focused on expanding economic and investment relations between Egypt and Hungary, building on the progress made in recent years. President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of leveraging Egypt's energy infrastructure to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The exploratory talks are expected to cover potential areas of collaboration in natural gas transmission networks and liquefied natural gas reception and re-export facilities.
According to President El-Sisi, the areas of cooperation will be determined based on the results of relevant technical and commercial studies. He also highlighted the significance of continuing to develop Egyptian-Hungarian relations on both bilateral and European levels, taking advantage of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union to open up new avenues for economic and investment cooperation.
Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shinawy stated that the discussions between President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Medgyessy confirmed the two sides' commitment to their strategic relations and their desire to translate their common understandings into concrete steps that serve their mutual interests. Prime Minister Medgyessy welcomed President El-Sisi's visit, expressing Hungary's desire to enhance cooperation with Egypt in various fields.
President El-Sisi praised the ongoing development of Egyptian-Hungarian relations and the depth of historical ties between the two nations. He also emphasized the importance of preparations for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Egyptian-Hungarian diplomatic relations in 2028, which he sees as an opportunity to launch a new phase of cooperation and expand strategic partnership areas.
During his visit, President El-Sisi extended an invitation to Hungarian President and Prime Minister to visit Egypt in 2028 to coincide with the anniversary celebrations. This visit aims to further develop bilateral relations and agree on new practical paths for cooperation. President El-Sisi also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome he received in Budapest and extended congratulations to the Hungarian people on the anniversary of their 1956 revolution.
The relations between Egypt and Hungary are built on a long history of political, economic, and cultural cooperation. President El-Sisi cited the role of Hungarian architect Max Herz Pasha in preserving Islamic and Coptic antiquities in Cairo in the early 20th century as an example of the extended relations between the two countries in the fields of culture, knowledge, and historical heritage preservation.
Key points
- Egypt and Hungary have agreed to start exploratory talks to examine the possibility of utilizing Egypt's energy sector capabilities.
- The talks will cover potential areas of collaboration in natural gas transmission networks and liquefied natural gas reception and re-export facilities.
- The two countries aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation and take advantage of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union.
