Christian culture is common ground and a shared way of thinking between Hungary and the Republic of Cape Verde, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated at a press conference held on Thursday in Praia, the capital of the Republic of Cape Verde.
During its two-day visit, the delegation led by Mr Orbán was received by Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Olavo Correia, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Communities Luís Filipe Tavares.
Mr Orbán said he is in the Christian Democratic International together with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cape Verde, they are both vice-presidents of the organisation. He said that when he met with the Prime Minister in Budapest, they realised that the Christian culture in which they had been raised allowed people thousands of kilometres apart to see the world in a similar light.
Mr Orbán highlighted that it is rare in today’s world for a country to openly declare itself to be Christian. “In Europe this is even banned,” he said, adding that “there one cannot speak about identity issues with such openness, it is a different world there”.
The Hungarian Prime Minister said regarding diplomacy that in the European Union Hungary is the only country, or one of two countries, which supports visa-free travel for the Republic of Cape Verde.
The parties entered into agreements in two areas: in the area of the economy and in the field of education. As part of economic cooperation, the two countries will set up a mixed committee, said Mr Orbán, observing that regarding its population Hungary is ranked 88th in the world, while regarding its exports it is ranked 34th.
Meaning that Hungary is engaged in remarkable export-import activities also by global standards, the Hungarian Prime Minister said, adding that he believes that trade and investments contribute to the welfare of the people.
Pursuant to the agreement, they have set up a fixed aid credit programme worth EUR 35 million which will be used for the development of the agriculture and water management of the Republic of Cape Verde. They also opened a EUR 15 million private credit facility so that the two countries can establish joint ventures.
The Prime Minister said that the Stipendium Hungaricum programme has long-standing traditions. As part of this programme, the Hungarian State provides scholarships for foreign students so that they can study in Hungary.
“This is how we seek to gather friends around the world,” Mr Orbán added, highlighting that ten scholarship holders will study in Hungary under the agreement concluded with the Republic of Cape Verde.
Hungary will additionally be happy to spend money on popularising the Kodály method in the Republic of Cape Verde, the Prime Minister said.