India Thursday sought Hungary's support for an early conclusion of the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement as both sides inked six agreements, including on transfer of defence know-how and in the field of traditional systems of medicine.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing a press briefing after talks with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said he has sought his "support for an early conclusion of the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement, which would enhance trade and investment flows between India and Hungary".
He said both sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of defence technology.
"Hungary possesses advanced technology in niche areas of defence industry and can become a reliable partner in our efforts for defence modernization," he said.
He appreciated Hungary's support to India's candidature for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council and the 2008 decision of the Nuclear Suppliers Group on civil nuclear cooperation with India.
"I have sought Prime Minister Orban's support for India's full membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other multilateral export control regimes," Manmohan Singh said.
More From This Section
During the banquet speech later, the prime minister noted the close cultural ties between the two nations.
Manmohan Singh said Hungarian scholars of Indology "have made invaluable contributions to Europe's rich scholarship on Indian traditions, culture and heritage".
"Sanskrit was introduced in a Hungarian University in 1873. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, who invited many Hungarian scholars to Shanti Niketan, was himself enraptured by the beauty of the waters of Lake Balaton. And, this year, we are jointly celebrating the centenary of the noted painter Amrita Sher-Gil, who was a daughter of India and Hungary," he said.
Orban is visiting India Oct 16-19. The MoU on defence aims to "facilitate transfer of know how, experience and technical information in the areas of biological, radiological and chemical warfare".
The other agreements were on air services, on cultural exchange, providing Euros 2 Million each annually for Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund for collaborative research activities and a MoU on sports