Hanoi, June 14 -- Hungary views Vietnam as its loyal and reliable friend and most important strategic partner in Southeast Asia, underscoring the country's special role in Budapest's "Eastern Opening" policy.

The remarks were made by Hungarian officials while hosting a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Phan Dinh Trac, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for Internal Affairs during their visit from June 8-13.

They included First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Marta Matrai, Deputy Prosecutor General Tibor Ibolya, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Illes Boglarka, and leaders of the ruling FIDESZ party, the Socialist Party, and the Workers' Party....