Orbán on Erdoğan: This is the closest possible friendship, brotherhood and political cooperation

"When I was at the beginning of this job, I used to think that these kinds of events were just for playing with words. But then I learned that these words have meaning because they describe different kinds of relationships. And today we have established a key strategic partnership. I don't see anything higher than this. At the diplomatic level, it expresses the closest friendship, brotherhood and political cooperation possible", Viktor Orbán said at a joint press conference he held with the Turkish President in Budapest on Monday afternoon.

According to the Prime Minister, the Hungarians lost the previous century and now the Hungarians are planning on winning the 21st century. In order to accomplish this, they are looking for allies. "The great plan is for the Turks and Hungarians to be victorious together in the 21st century," he said.

Orbán recalled that this was his 21st official meeting with Erdoğan, and mentioned that they have also signed agreements on railway and military development. Without Turkey, he said, migration cannot be controlled, and "without Turkey, guaranteeing Hungary's security is next to impossible".

Orbán announced that during Monday's meeting, they agreed that trade between the two countries would exceed $4 billion this year, with the overall target being $6 billion. The Hungarian Prime Minister mentioned that his government also "wants to help Turkey", for example by developing cooperation between the two countries' universities: for this purpose, 200 Turkish students will receive Hungarian state scholarships. Next year will be dedicated to cultural cooperation, and 2025 will be declared the year of Turkish-Hungarian cooperation in science and innovation, Orbán announced.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned that the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Hungary was marked on Monday. He said that the two countries have friendly relations, referred to Orbán as his "dear friend" and confirmed what the Hungarian Prime Minister had said, that the two countries have now entered into a key strategic partnership.

Erdoğan continued by encouraging Hungarian investors to invest in Turkey, and he also mentioned the year of cultural cooperation, which he said would include a year's worth of cultural events designed to bring the Turkish and Hungarian peoples even closer together.

The Turkish President came to Budapest on the occasion of the meeting of the High Level Hungarian-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council and is scheduled to leave the city in the evening.