Orlic, Szijjarto welcome announced establishment of strategic council

BUDAPEST - Serbian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlic and Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto welcomed on Monday in Budapest the announced establishment of a Serbia-Hungary strategic council.

Orlic is on an official visit to Hungary.

Orlic and Szijjarto welcomed the bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, noting that modernisation and reconstruction of a Belgrade-Budapest rail line represented the most significant project and a new era for transport in this part of Europe.

The parties devoted special attention to economic cooperation, and Orlic noted that Hungary was now Serbia's fifth-largest economic partner after moving up eight positions in the past six or seven years.

He also said that, in the past 12 years, Hungary had become one of the ten largest foreign investors in Serbia.

They noted the significance of cooperation aimed at preventing illegal migration, as well as cooperation in energy security, which they said was strategically important.

Orlic thanked Hungary for its support when it comes to storing natural gas for Serbia's needs and for a decision to continue to do so this year, too, and added that this was another proof of solidarity, support and friendship.

Szijjarto noted that Serbia and Hungary planned to double the power transmission capacity to facilitate and expedite exchange, and added that, despite the energy crisis in Europe, the two countries had succeeded in securing and guaranteeing stable energy supplies to their citizens.

The parties said they were pleased with intensive contacts between officials of the two countries and the excellent bilateral relations, which they noted guaranteed the preservation and continued advancement of Serbia-Hungary cooperation.

Orlic thanked Hungary for its understanding for Serbia's interests and positions and for its support and clear stance on the so-called Kosovo's aspirations to join European organisations, and Szijjarto said Belgrade could always count on support on that issue and on the matter of Serbia's European integration, the statement said.