China urged Japan not to incite regional division and confrontation and to look at China's development in an objective light and ensure the steady growth of relations with China on the right track.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

The European Commission today disbursed the first half (€500 million) of a new €1 billion macro-financial assistance (MFA) operation for Ukraine. The second tranche (another €500 million) will be disbursed tomorrow, 2 August. 

This additional assistance of €1 billion is part of the extraordinary effort by the EU, alongside the international community, to help Ukraine address its immediate financial needs following the unprovoked and unjustified aggression by Russia. It is the first part of the exceptional MFA package of up to €9 billion announced in the Commission’s communication of 18 May 2022 and endorsed by the European Council of 23-24 June 2022. It complements the support already provided by the EU, including a €1.2 billion emergency MFA loan paid out in the first half of the year. Taken together, the two strands of the programme bring the total MFA support to Ukraine since the beginning of the war to €2.2 billion.

The funds have been made available to Ukraine in the form of long-term loans on favourable terms. The assistance supports Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability and overall resilience in the context of Russia’s military aggression and the ensuing economic challenges. In a further expression of solidarity, the EU budget will cover the interest costs on this loan. 

This financial assistance comes in addition to the unprecedented support provided by the EU to date, notably humanitarian, development and defence assistance, the suspension of all import duties on Ukrainian exports for one year or other solidarity initiatives, e.g. to address transport bottlenecks so that exports, in particular of grains, could be ensured.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People said: “This €1 billion payment is a first part of our €9 billion macro-financial assistance package to help Ukraine meet its emergency financial needs caused by Russia’s brutal war. At the same time, we are working closely with EU Member States and our international partners on the next steps to rebuild Ukraine for the longer term. The EU will provide all political, financial, military and humanitarian support required to assist Ukraine and its people in the face of Russia’s continued illegal aggression – for as long as it takes.”

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Press release

Georgian citizens will find employment in the most demanding sectors of Hungary.
The Hungarian government included Georgia in the list of countries whose citizens will receive a work permit in Hungary in a simplified manner for a specified period of time. This was announced at the meeting between the Georgian and Hungarian foreign ministers, which was held within the framework of Ilia Darchiashvili’s working visit to Budapest.
“I thank the Hungarian partners for their readiness to include Georgia in the list of countries that benefit from the mentioned simplified procedures. This fact is another clear confirmation of Hungary's unwavering support for our country," Darchiashvili said at the joint press conference after the meeting.
The ministers agreed that the sides will further work towards the implementation of the Hungarian government’s aforesaid decision.
The ministers also discussed fruitful Georgia - Hungary cooperation in various fields, including economics, tourism, education and people-to-people contacts. The sides welcomed the positive dynamics of the existing economic and trade relations between the two countries, which they noted had increased significantly in recent years and agreed to hold an intergovernmental economic commission by the end of 2022, which would open additional opportunities in this direction.
The sides also discussed deepening cooperation in tourism and highlighted the importance of increasing the numbers of flights from Kutaisi International Airport by the Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air.
The conversation also touched on the process of Georgia's European integration.
“The recognition of Georgia’s European perspective is a historic fact, by which the European Union confirmed that Georgia is a European state and will become a member of the EU. It is the recognition of the progress achieved over the years, as well as the high level of integration that exists today between Georgia and the European Union” – Darchiashvili said.
He thanked Szijjártó for Hungary's “strong support” for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Ministers welcomed the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and stressed the importance of exchanging high-level meetings.
On 29 July 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, paid a working visit to Hungary. Within the framework of the visit, Ilia Darchiashvili held a meeting with his Hungarian colleague, Péter Szijjártó, and Minister of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Gergely Gulyás.

MFA of Georgia

Today, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.