BUDAPEST, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's interest lies in the improvement of cooperation between the West and Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday at a joint press conference with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"If the relations between Europe's western and eastern parts and between NATO and Russia are good, it is good for Hungary," Orban said, referring to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
He also underlined the importance of the long-standing practice of holding a Hungarian-Russian high-level meeting every year.
Speaking about economic cooperation, Orban said that since the introduction of sanctions against Russia, 2018 was the first year when the level of Hungarian-Russian trade increased again.
"Although Hungary is a member of NATO and the European Union, this does not exclude the establishment of political cooperation with Russia," Orban stressed.
For his part, Putin said Russia considers Hungary an important partner in gas transport to Europe.
"Gas transit through Hungary towards Western Europe makes Hungary a priority partner in gas transportation," Putin said.
Putin said there has been a mechanism for cooperation between Russia and Hungary at the highest level, which has been successful, especially regarding trade and economic relations.
According to Putin, Russian nuclear giant Rosatom will be tasked with the construction of two new units of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.
