(Unofficial Translation)

I am grateful to President János Áder and the people of Hungary for warmly welcoming me and my delegation. I am pleased to become the first Korean President to make a state visit to Hungary in 20 years.

Hungary was the first Eastern European country with which Korea established diplomatic relations. As Chair of the Visegrád Group, Hungary has prepared the Second V4-Korea Summit to be held tomorrow. I appreciate President Áder having arranged this occasion for Hungary and Korea to continue to develop our invaluable relations.

Today, President Áder and I agreed to upgrade our bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and discussed how to promote sector-specific substantive cooperation.

First, we agreed to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. We two leaders gave high marks to the fact that our bilateral trade recorded an all-time high last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. We will work together to expand it further in such promising future industries as electric vehicles and batteries.

Second, we agreed to push for closer cooperation in science and technology. If Hungary’s advanced science and technology and Korea’s strengths in applied science and commercialization are combined, this is expected to create tremendous synergy. Our two countries will further expand cooperation not only in areas related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution but also in climate change responses, digital technology and healthcare.

Third, regarding the climate and environmental challenges, we agreed to closely cooperate in order to better contribute to international efforts. We exchanged our opinions about the outcome of COP26 and how to achieve 2050 Carbon Neutrality as well as concurred on the fact that a sustainable growth necessitates novel efforts built upon digital and green transitions. 

Lastly, President Áder showed unwavering support for my efforts and those of my Administration to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation.

Yesterday, I visited the memorial site next to the Danube and prayed for the souls of the 26 Koreans and two Hungarians who lost their lives in the 2019 sightseeing boat sinking. I express my gratitude once more to the President as well as the Government and people of Hungary who did everything they could to respond to the accident and shared sorrow together while remembering the victims.

I hope that this summit will serve as yet another milestone in the expansion of bilateral cooperation and for the common prosperity of our two countries.

Köszönöm szépen, thank you very much.