Hungary on Thursday announced 400 fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students as part of efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The development came during the visit of Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to Islamabad, where a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed covering trade, industry, education, and cultural collaboration.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

Describing Hungary as a “positive and beneficial friend”, Dar said the visit of the Hungarian foreign minister—his second to Pakistan—would further solidify the decades-long ties between the two countries.

“Pakistan values its relationship with Hungary, which has played a constructive role in our industrial development through partnerships such as with the Mughal Group,” Dar said. He added that over 100 professionals have already contributed to the trade and industrial sectors under Hungarian cooperation.

The foreign minister confirmed that the two sides had just signed a series of MoUs aimed at expanding collaboration, particularly in trade and industry. He also said discussions were held on the regional security situation, including the conflict in Gaza and Pakistan’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan.

Dar said Hungary had shown a “positive and understanding” stance on Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements with Afghanistan. He also thanked Budapest for supporting Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus status in the European Union.

Szijjártó, for his part, noted that Pakistan and Hungary were celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations and said there was a need to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors including culture, industry, and education.

“We see Pakistan as a good friend, a country working sincerely for regional peace,” he said, adding that Hungary understands the complex challenges Islamabad faces along its western border.

He said both countries share common ground on several political matters and support dialogue-based solutions to global crises, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He criticised some European nations for failing to back meaningful peace initiatives in that war.

Announcing the 400 scholarships, the Hungarian foreign minister said that over 1,700 applications from Pakistani students had already been received, reflecting the popularity of Hungary’s academic programmes.

While acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts in countering terrorism, Szijjártó expressed concern over terror threats from Afghan territory and voiced appreciation for Pakistan’s hospitality during his visit.

During the presser, he also confirmed that Hungary and Pakistan were working to sign an agreement on mutual investment protection and were preparing to launch direct air connectivity under a forthcoming aviation agreement.

In a notable development, a visa-free travel agreement for holders of diplomatic passports was also announced, aiming to facilitate more frequent official exchanges between the two nations.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan also addressed the event, expressing optimism about ongoing B2B engagements between the two countries, saying they would pave the way for long-term economic collaboration.

He noted that Pakistan had introduced a series of regulatory and policy reforms to enhance the ease of doing business, attract foreign investment, and develop sustainable infrastructure. He also revealed that a national tariff policy was being devised with a focus on rationalisation to further support business activities.