Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó of Hungary travelled to Astana, Kazakhstan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtileu of Kazakhstan on Monday, 17 February. The objective of the meeting was to find ways to deepen strategic ties and economic cooperation between the two nations.

‘Kazakhstan, along with Hungary, is pursuing a political strategy based on normality and common sense. Our respective national interest comes first. We have been on the side of peace for three years and have spoken out in every possible forum in favour of an early peace deal in Ukraine. It has been an honour to review with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the new world political reality brought on by the recent US presidential election, which is bringing positive changes for both of us,’ Minister Szijjártó posted on his Facebook page following his meeting.

President Tokayev visited Budapest, Hungary in November 2024. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary travelled to Astana in November 2023. The frequent high-level diplomatic visits show strong ties between Hungary and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is a major exporter of crude oil and gas, so it can be a very important strategic ally in terms of energy policy.

According to an article covering Minister Szijjártó’s visit by The Astana Times, bilateral trade between Hungary and Kazakhstan grew by 4.4 per cent in 2024, to nearly $200 million. However, Minister Szijjártó and Nurtileu are looking to increase that number, and reach $1 billion in the near future.

The Astana Times also notes that there is currently around $370 million worth of Hungarian investment in Kazakhstan. The biggest chunk of that, around $200 is by the Hungarian oil company MOL, which is extracting in the Rozhkovskoye gas condensate field and is involved in Globalia’s construction of solar power plants in the Central Asian country as well.

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