Szijjártó then said that the world is undergoing huge changes in the fields of politics, security, and energy.
He pointed out that global energy demand continues to grow rapidly, with heating and cooling systems becoming more and more intensive, and the electrification of transport, and that this increased demand can only be met in a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly way by nuclear energy.
He recalled that Kazakhstan has recently held a referendum on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, allowing the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, which could also open new avenues for energy cooperation with the EU.
"We believe that the period ahead should be about increased connectivity, which we strongly argue for. I believe that cooperation between the EU and Central Asia can contribute to this goal," he said.
The Minister also underlined the growing importance of the region in his earlier press conference and pointed out that Hungary has long been building its relations with Central Asian countries.
"I remember when our government started to build relations with the Central Asian region in the early 2010s, there were those who laughed at us, who considered our plan ridiculous, and those who criticized us strongly for political reasons. Today, the same people, or their successors, are passing the baton to each other in the Central Asian region, trying to build close cooperation," he said.
"We do not feel any satisfaction about this, I just want to say that we woke up ten or twelve years earlier than those who are now beginning to discover the importance of Central Asia, so the Prime Minister's saying that Hungarians are not right, but will be right, is also true here," he added.
He also pointed out that Kazakhstan has the second largest uranium reserves in the world, the largest uranium producer in the world, and now, with the increase in industrial output, the electrification of transport, and the increasing use of cooling and heating systems, the need for electricity is growing, then one has to ask the sensible question of how this dramatically increasing demand for electricity in the world can be met safely, affordably and without destroying the environment, the answer is clear: nuclear energy can do it.
"That is why the European Union needs international cooperation to underline the importance of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he concluded.
