Edited by Anna Popper
The Hungary–Latin America Friendship Group of the Hungarian National Assembly, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Budapest, hosted a special event on 28 October 2025 to honour the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Hungary and Chile.
The celebration took place in the magnificent Hunting Hall of the Hungarian Parliament, richly decorated with historical frescoes.
Among the distinguished guests were the ambassadors of the Latin American countries accredited to Hungary: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Former Hungarian ambassadors who had served in Latin America, representatives of the Hungary–Latin America Friendship Section of the National Assembly, members of scientific circles and friends of Chile were also in attendance.
Opening of the Ceremony
The program began with the national anthems of Hungary and Chile.
It was followed with the welcoming address by Mónika Bartos, MP, President of the Hungary–Latin America Friendship Group. She warmly greeted the audience at the most beautiful workplace in Hungary and beyond. She highlighted the importance of Hungary’s multifaceted relations with Latin American nations, which are based on shared values, mutual interests and respect.
She recalled that earlier this year the Chilean Senate had solemnly marked the centenary: at the opening of a plenary session, the President of the Senate greeted Hungary, and Senator Francisco Chahuán, President of the Chile–Hungary Interparliamentary Group in the Senate, paid tribute to the long-standing cooperation between the two countries. An exhibition was also inaugurated on the occasion of 100 years of bilateral relations between Chile and Hungary.
In her historical overview, Ms. Bartos also proudly mentioned Mór Jókai (1825–1904), one of the most influential and prolific figures of 19th-century Hungarian literature, who served as a Member of Parliament between 1861-1896 and later as a member of the Upper House from 1897 until his death. He was also the first President of the Hungarian IPU Group. In honour of the 200th anniversary of his birth, a memorial room was opened in the Parliament. He was not only the author of over 100 novels, but also greatly contributed to the international understanding of Hungarian affairs through his captivating personality and speeches.
As host of the event, Zsolt V. Németh, Member of the National Assembly and President of the Hungary–Chile Friendship Group, conveyed his warm greetings on this milestone occasion. He underlined that, due to the storms and challenges of the past 100 years, the two countries had at times been closer, at other times more distant.
Today, however, it can be said that broad and fruitful relations have developed between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, culture, education and science.
He affirmed his commitment to further developing and intensifying this cooperation in his official capacity.
In her speech, H.E. Camila Márquez Araujo, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Hungary addressed the audience:
“It is a profound honour to address you on this occasion, on which we commemorate the centenary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Chile and Hungary. One hundred years of shared history, marked by respect, dialogue, and cooperation between two nations that – despite their geographical distance – have succeeded in building a solid, lasting, and fruitful friendship.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hungary–Latin America Friendship Group of the Parliament for organizing this ceremony in such a symbolic venue.
Diplomatic relations and bilateral agreements are established between states, but at the end of the day, they are implemented by people.
Today, we have the privilege of having in this hall some of those individuals who, through their daily work and in the exercise of their respective responsibilities, have contributed to the development of friendly relations between Chile and Hungary. My deepest gratitude to all of them.
Diplomatic relations between Chile and Hungary were officially established in August 1925, when the Chilean Minister César León Entrala presented his credentials to Regent Miklós Horthy.
Like any relationship that had to navigate the challenges of the 20th century, our ties were interrupted during the Second World War and again in 1973. In that difficult moment in Chile’s history, Hungary expressed its solidarity by welcoming nearly 800 families who found a home on this side of the world.
A new stage began with the reestablishment of bilateral relations in 1990, alongside the return of democracy in both countries.
Years later, Hungary’s accession to the European Union in 2004 gave new impetus to our relationship, projecting it onto the European stage and strengthening the convergence of shared values and objectives.
Throughout this century, numerous high-level encounters have helped deepen our bonds. We recall with special appreciation the visits of Presidents Árpád Göncz (in 1991) and László Sólyom (in 2008) to Chile, as well as the visits of President Ricardo Lagos to Hungary in 2002 and 2004.
More recently, in July 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó – who had previously visited our country in 2015 – returned to Chile to reaffirm our shared commitment to further expanding areas of cooperation.
Hungary has shown a constant interest in strengthening its ties with Latin America, an example of which is its “Opening to the South” policy, aimed at diversifying foreign trade and promoting investment. In this context, Chile occupies a strategic position: it is a reliable partner in the region and a natural bridge connecting South America with Europe.
Over this century, our countries have built a relationship with great potential for growth, particularly in the economic, educational, scientific, and cultural spheres. This is reflected in the 18 bilateral agreements signed in recent decades, which have enabled young professionals to work and study in Hungary.
Special mention must be made of the Advanced Framework Agreement with the European Union (2023), which modernizes our cooperation to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and whose prompt ratification by the Hungarian Parliament we deeply appreciate.
Multilateral cooperation also constitutes an essential dimension of our relationship. Both countries coincide in international forums in the defence of multilateralism, peace, democracy, and sustainable development. This joint work has enabled us to support candidacies, coordinate positions, and foster mutual trust that goes beyond the bilateral sphere and projects itself onto the global stage. In addition, parliamentary dialogue has been a pillar of political understanding between our nations. Since 1998, interparliamentary friendship groups have promoted the exchange of legislative experiences and the strengthening of institutional cooperation.
Allow me also to pay tribute to the valuable contribution of the Hungarian community in Chile, especially those who arrived in the 1930s and 1940s. Their contributions to architecture, medicine, politics, and the arts enriched our national life profoundly.
Among them, we remember Pablo Vidor (1892–1991), a visual artist who moved to Chile in 1924 and became director of the National Museum of Fine Arts. The Hungarian artists Rudolf Pytie and Lajos Janosa (1902–1983) helped to promote the museum’s branch in Valparaíso. Their cultural legacy remains a living bridge between Chile and Hungary.
Today, as we celebrate this centenary, we reaffirm our determination to continue strengthening these ties. Political dialogue, trade exchange, scientific cooperation, innovation, academic mobility, the promotion of investment, and clean energy are areas that will continue to consolidate our bilateral relationship.
May this anniversary be not only a look back, but also an invitation to the future: to continue building bridges of understanding, expanding our partnerships, and projecting new joint goals that honour the shared history between Santiago and Budapest. Thank you very much. / Köszönöm szépen.”
The Ambassador’s remarks were followed by several additional speeches:
Péter Sutyinszki, Head of the Department for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, emphasized that the 100 years of diplomatic and friendly ties had proven resilient and exemplary despite the great geographical distance between the two countries.
Lajos Oláh, Vice President of the National Assembly, conveyed heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Hungarian Parliament, underlining the importance of Chile as a partner country and acknowledging the steady growth of bilateral relations.
Ambassador Csaba Pólyi, who spent 26 years serving in Latin American countries during his long and distinguished diplomatic career, delivered an engaging lecture. He shared his personal experiences, including the period of reopening the Hungarian Embassy in Santiago, and highlighted the region’s significance as well as the important role of diplomacy in fostering relations between Hungary, Chile and the other Latin American countries where he served.
Science Linking Continents: Astronomy Cooperation Between Chile and Hungary
The final speaker, Róbert Szabó, President of the HUN-REN Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, highlighted the outstanding scientific cooperation between Chile and Hungary in the field of astronomy. He noted that only a few places in the world offer ideal conditions for observing the universe, and the Atacama Desert – including Cerro Pachón at over 2,600 metres – is among the best, with more than 300 clear nights a year, far exceeding those in most European countries. The site, already home to the Gemini South Observatory, was chosen in 2006 for a major new astronomical facility.
On 26 June 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory unveiled the world’s largest sky-survey camera, housed in its 8.4-metre Simonyi Telescope, named after Hungarian-born scientist and space tourist Charles Simonyi, whose donation helped launch the project. The 3,200-megapixel camera can capture, in a single exposure, a field of view equivalent to 49 full moons. Over the next decade, the observatory will produce an unprecedented, high-resolution record of the dynamic southern sky. Hungarian researchers are actively involved in the international collaboration, playing a key role in processing and analysing the enormous volume of data generated.
Cultural Finale: Concert by Chilean Pianist
The celebration concluded with a piano concert by Hugo Llanos Campos, a Chilean pianist. He began his musical training in Chilean folk music. He studied at the Conservatory of the Universidad Mayor in Santiago and continued his training in Vienna. where he completed his master’s degree and postgraduate studies at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität. Deeply connected to Chile’s musical tradition, Llanos Campos’ programme reflected his country’s rich heritage, including works of Santiago Heitz, Guillermo Deichert, Enrique Soro, as well as his own composition, Theme and Variations on “Dame la mano y danzaremos” by Gabriela Mistral.
Following the concert, guests were invited to a reception to celebrate the excellent and long-standing relations between Chile and Hungary.
Source: Embassy of Chile in Budapest
Photos from the Hungary–Latin America Friendship Group of the Hungarian National Assembly; and Diplomatic Press Agency
