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Orbán: Hungary-Russia ties stable, dependable

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Hungary’s ties with Russia “stable and dependable” prior to talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in
Moscow. Putin welcomed Orbán at the Kremlin, where Orbán said: “This meeting with you has great significance for Hungarian policymaking, since we are important partners for each other.” Hungary needs dependable partners. “I am glad that ties between our two countries have been steady and dependable for years,” he added. Orbán said that the two countries have “succeeded in dealing with unfavourable impacts of the
international environment” and reversed the tendency of a shrinking bilateral trade amidst the economic sanctions against Russia. The aim
of his visit was to thank Putin “for his efforts in recent years through which decline was turned into progress” as well as to “open new
opportunities for development in trade, investment, energy, farming and culture”, he said. Putin said that Hungary is one of Russia’s key partners in Europe. Bilateral ties are developing on an intergovernmental as well as regional level, he added. Trade grew by 25% last year and in the first half of 2018, he said. Mutual investments have reached 1 billion dollars, with further growth in sight, he said.