Hungarian embassy reopens in Santiago de Chile

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi paid an official visit to Chile between January 5 and 7 and reopened the Hungarian Embassy in Santiago de Chile. He also had talks with his counterpart and with the leaders of the Chilean Congress.

János Martonyi was received by Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno Charme, and expressed his gratitude for keeping the Chilean embassy in Budapest open despite the closing of the Hungarian embassy in Chile in 2009. He said Hungary was paying more attention to the Latin American region as part of its new policy of global opening. Hungary intends to bolster cooperation with Latin American countries in the areas of the economy, science and education. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program, also made available to Chile, serves to enhance bilateral relations in higher education as well, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said.

Alfredo Moreno Charme urged the signing of a Working Holiday agreement that would enable young citizens to work on a temporary basis in each other's country, and he asked Hungary's support for upgrading an association agreement between the European Union and Chile - a support János Martonyi promised.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister also met with the leaders of the bicameral Chilean Congress. These meetings were also attended by Senator Antonio Horvath Kiss, of Hungarian descent, who heads the Hungarian-Chilean friendship group. The senator stressed that the potentials of Hungarian education and scientific capacities should be better publicized in Chile.

(Source: Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)