Iran, Hungary ink higher education accord in New York
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjártó signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday in New York, setting out plans for closer cooperation in higher education during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
The accord, signed on the sidelines of the annual gathering, covers science, technology, medicine and agriculture. Both ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments as part of their meeting, IRNA reported.
The agreement underscores a push by Tehran to broaden academic partnerships abroad at a time when its universities seek stronger international links in research and applied sciences. Hungarian institutions, long known for their medical and agricultural program, will be part of the collaboration.
Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday, ahead of a week of speeches and bilateral talks with world leaders and media. He is heading Iran’s delegation to the Assembly, which runs from Sept 23 to Sept 29. President Masoud Pezeshkian has also flown to the US city to deliver a national address to the world body.
The two foreign ministers stressed “mutual interest” in expanding ties and highlighted the importance of education as a field where, as one diplomat put it, cooperation can “stand the test of time.”