Polish and Hungarian Presidents head Friendship Days

Hungarian President Janos Ader, on the second day of his visit to the city of Kielce within the celebrations of Polish-Hungarian Friendship days, was joined by President of Poland Andrzej Duda and the two First Ladies at a Polish-Hungarian mass at the Kielce Basilica. Afterwards, the presidents unveiled a bust of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, lit candles at a monument commemorating scouts killed in World War 2 and took part in the cup presentation ceremony at a youth handball tournament.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Friday, Poland's president said that Polish-Hungarian relations are flourishing, "driven by shared values and expanding business ties between the two nations". As President Duda said, the meeting on the eve of Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day was to discuss bilateral and regional ties as well as cooperation within the European Union and NATO, in addition to a range of infrastructure and energy projects.

Meanwhile, Hungarian President Janos Ader praised Poland for its strong economic growth and low inflation and unemployment. He also said that Poland was his country's fourth-largest trading partner.

Poland and Hungary are close allies in the European Union and also work together as part of a regional cooperation platform known as the Visegrad Group.

Polish-Hungarian Friendship Days were established by the parliaments of the two countries in 2007. Celebrations are held annually either in Hungary or Poland.

Source: IAR