| 19 January 2010 On 14 January, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the Foreign Minister of Hungary, Dr. Peter Balazs, who had arrived in Latvia on a working visit. During their meeting, both ministers discussed Latvian-Hungarian bilateral relations, regional co-operation, relations with neighbouring countries and energy policy. While discussing bilateral relations between Latvia and Hungary, the ministers focused on the promotion of economic co-operation. Minister Riekstins made note of a growing interest among Latvia's business community in Hungarian markets, and named sectors like pharmacy, timber products, and food industry. "Challenges presented by the economic situation are a new impulse to the establishment of new business contacts and penetrating new markets," Mr Riekstins noted. During the meeting, Dr Balazs briefed about the economic situation in Hungary and mentioned positive trends in financial markets. In October 2008, Hungary was the first of the European Union member states to apply for a loan from international lenders, and received 2.1 billion euro. End of last year, the Hungarian government announced that due to positive developments in the financial environment, Hungary would not make use of the last (fourth) tranche of the loan available. During the discussion, the parties also spoke about co-operation in education and culture, the Latvian and Hungarian language learning in particular. Minister Riekstins expressed appreciation of the opportunity to learn Latvian in the Hungarian universities (in Budapest and Szombathely). With regard to regional co-operation, both parties shared the opinion that cooperation between the Visegrad countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia) and the Baltic states should be intensified. The ministers exchanged views on co-operation with neighbouring countries. Minister Riekstins mentioned the capacity of the Latvian port infrastructure, and logistics services to ensure shipment of commercial supplies for use of the US forces in Afghanistan. During the discussion, Minister Balazs informed about the extended meeting, to be held in Budapest early in March, of foreign ministers from the Visegrad countries, the Baltic states, the Eastern partnership countries and the EU Presidency trio (Spain, Belgium, and Hungary) and devoted to the issues of Eastern Partnership. "An issue of importance in co-operation with Eastern partnership countries, is an active implementation of concrete projects," Minsiter Riekstins emphasised. Ministers Riekstins and Balazs also reviewed energy policy issues. The ministers shared the opinion that energy supply sources should be diversified.
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