New Consulate Opens in Osaka

Osaka, Japan

Hungary has opened a consulate in Osaka, one of Japan’s most important economic centers, which could greatly contribute to strengthening economic, political, and human relations between the two countries, announced Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on Thursday at the site.

At the opening of the diplomatic mission, the minister emphasized that dividing the world into blocs is harmful, while global cooperation based on connectivity and mutual respect is beneficial. He stated that it is very important to be aware of this today, as humanity has once again entered an era of danger and war, the most tense period since World War II.

“There are plenty of challenges, and there are many possible responses to these challenges. One response could be to sever ties. Another response could be to cut off well-established transport and energy routes that have been functioning well for decades and impose sanctions on each other,” he said.

We recommend a different path based on experience, because the last time the world was divided into blocs, it proved highly detrimental to our interests. We believe that diplomacy and dialogue are the solution to the world’s current problems. The solution would be for international politics to return to a basis of mutual respect,”

he continued.

Péter Szijjártó highlighted that Hungary and Japan have long maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, noting that the Osaka World Expo presents an excellent opportunity to further strengthen ties, exemplified by Hungary becoming the first Central European country to open a consulate in the city. He then recalled that during his talks in Tokyo the previous day, they had agreed on the need to develop cooperation, which would be difficult to imagine without the Kansai region and western Japan.

He pointed out that the Kansai region’s economic performance exceeds that of Switzerland and Türkiye, for example, and that many of the 181 Japanese companies operating in Hungary have their headquarters here.

In addition, Japan’s only university with a Hungarian department is located here, as is an institute that applies the world-famous Hungarian development method, the Pető method,”

he noted.

“Our consulate in Osaka will therefore be able to serve the development of economic, political, and interpersonal relations excellently,” he added.

The minister then praised the results of bilateral cooperation to date, noting that 46 Japanese companies have invested in Hungary with the support of the Hungarian state over the past ten years.

We are proud that more than 30,000 Hungarians work for Japanese companies in Hungary. We are also proud to have strategic cooperation agreements with seven major Japanese companies, including Suzuki, Bridgestone, and Zoltek,”

he said.

“Nine thousand kilometers separate us geographically (…) We have successfully bridged this gap with human, political, and economic ties, and now, with the opening of the consulate in Osaka, we have another tool to take the cooperation between Hungary and Japan to a new level,” he explained.

Finally, he touched on the amazing technological revolution taking place in the world, in which Japan is absolutely at the forefront. “We Hungarians do not want to watch this technological revolution from the sidelines, but we want to be among those who are leading it, and cooperation with Japan will help us in this,” he said. “That is why (…) we are strengthening our cooperation as much as possible in three critical areas: peacebuilding, space exploration, and the nuclear industry. This requires personal presence, because no matter how widespread artificial intelligence becomes, we hope that there will never be any alternative to human relationships and personal presence,” he concluded.

Via MTI; Featured photo: Pexels

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