Hanoi(VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception onSeptember 17 for Hungarian Chief Prosecutor Peter Polt who is on a visit toVietnam to expand cooperation with the country’s Supreme People’s Procuracy.

Welcoming Polt toVietnam, Ngan said his visit will consolidate and enhance the relations betweenVietnam and Hungary, particularly in the judicial area.

She also highly spokeof the two countries’ long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperationwhich have flourished since they set up diplomatic ties nearly seven decadesago. Hungary has provided tremendous support for Vietnam during its strugglefor national independence in the past as well as at present nationalsafeguarding and building, she said, noting that thousands of Vietnamesestudents were trained in Hungary, many of whom now hold important positions atgovernmental organisations.

She highlightedHungary’s continued support for Vietnam today as Vietnam is viewed as its keypartner in Southeast Asia.

Polt, for his part,said he is happy to visit Vietnam for the second time, while hailing theofficial visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam NguyenPhu Trong to Hungary last week, during which the two countries lifted theirrelations to the level of Comprehensive Partnership.

He also updated hishost on the results of his meeting with leaders of the Supreme People’sProcuracy of Vietnam, saying that the two sides agreed to be each other’sstrategic partners and expand their collaboration in the prevention of high-techand economic crimes and corruption. They will also foster joint personneltraining and build strategies for development.

Delighted at the news,Ngan said she expects the cooperation between the two supreme procuracies willcontinue to grow in the future and hopes that both sides will increasedelegation exchanges to share experience and learn from one another.

Polt agreed with Ngan,saying that Hungary will double the number of scholarships offered toVietnamese procuratorial officials looking to study in the European country.

Vietnam and Hungaryestablished diplomatic ties on February 3, 1950. Over the past few years,active progress has been made in the bilateral relations, with high politicaltrust and a regular exchange of delegations, especially at high levels throughParty, Government, National Assembly, and local channels.

The bilateral tieshave seen significant progress in law-making, justice, nationaldefence-security, healthcare, education-training, and partnership betweenlocalities.

Education is a traditional cooperation sphere and a spotlight for Vietnam-Hungaryties in the new period. In recent years, Hungary is the only country in EasternEurope to have been consistent in increasing scholarships for Vietnamesestudents. The Government of Hungary is committed to providing 200 scholarshipsfor Vietnamese students each year and has assisted Vietnam in building a 500-bedoncology hospital in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho. –VNA