ISTANBUL

Türkiye and Hungary have elevated their bilateral relations from a strategic partnership to an enhanced strategic partnership, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary's capital Budapest, Erdogan said: "With the joint political declaration signed with Orban, we have elevated our bilateral relations from a strategic partnership to an enhanced strategic partnership.”

“In the first 11 months of the current year, our trade volume with Hungary has surpassed that of the previous year and is nearing $4 billion,” said Erdogan, adding that the goal is to increase bilateral trade to $6 billion.

“We are planning to boost our trade and investments by hosting the first meeting of the Economic-Trade Joint Committee in Türkiye in the coming months.”

“Türkiye and Hungary aim to strengthen ties further in areas such as defense industry and energy, where we already have productive collaborations,” he added.

Both leaders discussed recent issues, including Türkiye-EU relations and developments in Ukraine and Gaza, Erdogan said.

“I am pleased with Hungary, which will assume the EU presidency in the second half of 2024, strongly emphasizing its support for our full membership to the EU.”

Türkiye and Hungary agree that war and violence are no solutions in Palestine and Ukraine, Erdogan added.

Referring to the Istanbul peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in 2022, Erdogan said Türkiye is ready to revive the Istanbul process if there is a request from the sides.