Europe

1. Hungary has traditionally been friendly to Japan. For a period after the end of the Second World War, diplomatic relations between Hungary and Japan were severed due to the impact of the Cold War, but diplomatic relations were resumed with the exchange of official documents in August 1959 recognizing the restoration of relations between the two countries. In 1960, both countries established diplomatic representations in the other's country, and in June 1964, these legations were raised to the embassy level. At the time of the change of regime in Hungary, Japan positively extended assistance to Hungary. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have been progressing significantly. 2019 was a milestone year that marked 150 years since Japan concluded the “Treaty of Amity and Commerce” with Austria-Hungary (1869). In this monumental year marking 150 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Hungary, Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino made her first official overseas visit to Hungary and Austria from September 15 to 25.
2. Japan also attaches great importance to establishing its cooperative relationship with the Visegrád Four, a regional cooperative framework comprising the four countries of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, which are increasing their presence in Europe against the backdrop of steady economic growth. Japan-V4 cooperation was further strengthened by implementing the “V4+Japan” Seminar Regarding the Global Economy and Free Trade in April 2019 and holding the Third “Visegrad Group plus Japan” Summit Meeting during Prime Minister Abe’ s visit to Slovakia, continuing on from the previous year.

1. Since 1991, Japanese exports to Hungary have exceeded imports from that country. In 2019, with exports from Japan increasing by 1.02% over the previous year to 185 billion yen, and imports decreasing by 0.87% to 101.1 billion yen, Japan's trade surplus with Hungary reached 83.9 billion yen.
   　The main Japanese exports have been electrical and electric equipment, automobile parts and power generation equipment, cameras and semiconductors; the main imports, vehicles, power generation equipment, pork and medical equipment.
2. The total amount of Japanese direct investment in Hungary in 2019 was approximately 1.3 billion Euros (as reported to the National Bank of Hungary). The main areas of Japanese investment are in manufactures, particularly automotive industry. In recent years, about 160 Japanese firms have actively expanded their business in Hungary and contributed to create an employment for almost 34,000 people.

In order to help smooth the way for Hungary's move toward democratization and a market economy, Japan had provided technical cooperation and dispatched experts in corporate management, environment until 2008 March.

(1) Loan aid

4.91 billion yen

(2) Grand aid

6.32 million yen

(3) Technical Cooperation

7.69 billion yen

Since June 1997, exemptions for ordinary visas have been granted.