Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok held negotiations in an expanded format in Astana with the participation of government delegations from both countries.
President Tokayev emphasized that relations between Astana and Budapest are rooted in centuries-old history and mutual respect. He recalled his state visit to Hungary last year, during which a number of agreements were signed that laid the groundwork for long-term cooperation.
The Kazakh leader highlighted positive dynamics in bilateral trade and investment.
“Bilateral trade volume reached nearly $200mn last year and has already grown by 22% in the first eight months of 2025. More than 35 Hungarian companies operate in Kazakhstan, having invested around $400mn. We have already launched 20 joint projects worth $607mn in agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare, logistics, and finance,” Tokayev said.
Cultural and educational cooperation was also discussed. Tokayev noted that one of Astana’s streets was named after Hungarian poet Sandor Petofi as a symbol of friendship. He stressed the importance of student exchanges, recalling that 250 Kazakh students study annually in Hungary under scholarships, while Kazakh universities are ready to accept more Hungarian students and researchers.
President Sulyok reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to strengthening ties with Kazakhstan.
“Our peoples are connected by centuries-old roots. Hungary has always acted as a bridge between East and West. Our strategic partnership, launched in 2014, is steadily expanding across economics, culture, and education. We view Kazakhstan as a strategically important partner,” he said.
The expanded talks covered a wide range of issues, including trade and investment, energy and nuclear cooperation, transport and logistics, finance, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. Both presidents also confirmed the similarity of their countries’ positions on key international issues and pledged to continue cooperation in multilateral formats.
President Tokayev praised Hungary’s longstanding support for Kazakhstan, recalling that Budapest hosted the first Kazakh embassy in Europe and was among the first to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence. He also presented President Sulyok with the Order of Dostyk, (Order of Friendship) 1st degree, for his role in deepening bilateral ties.
“This award symbolizes the Kazakh people’s sincere respect for you and the eternal brotherhood of our nations,” Tokayev stated.
Expressing gratitude, Sulyok said he would remain a strong supporter of Kazakh-Hungarian friendship and pledged to continue building bridges between Central Asia and Europe.
