BUDAPEST, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The development of Hungarian-Russian economic cooperation is in Hungary's national interest, the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Friday.
At a joint press conference with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Szijjarto said, "Our goal is for the economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia to continue to develop."
The press conference was held after the 15th meeting of the Hungarian-Russian Intergovernmental Cooperation Joint Commission.
Szijjarto also spoke of the challenging times Europe is currently facing, concerning migration and the Ukraine conflict.
He criticized the European Union's sanctions on Russia. "We, Hungarians, want the war in neighboring Ukraine to end as soon as possible ... We must say that these Brussels sanctions simply do not work," he said.
Murashko thanked Hungary for its approach to bilateral cooperation, highlighting important agreements in healthcare, energy, pharmaceuticals, culture and sports.
Looking ahead, Murashko stressed the importance of collaboration in such fields as agriculture, energy and healthcare. ■