The francophone community of more than 300 million people around the world has a heartfelt friend in Hungary, the speaker of parliament said on the occasion of International Francophonie Day on Monday, addressing the opening of an exhibition. Hungary’s parliament has enjoyed associate membership of the French-speaking Parliamentary Assembly since 1993, László Kövér noted. A part of the community of European states for more than a thousand years, Hungary and its culture enriches universal European culture in equal measure to its independence, just as Francophone culture does, he said. The exhibition held in Parliament brings together francophone countries and presents their cultural ties with Hungary, Jean- François Paroz, Switzerland’s ambassador, said, speaking on behalf of this year’s president of the Francophonie Ambassadors’ Circle.