State Secretary Levente Magyar has met with Charles McLaughlin, the senior director for European and Russian Affairs at the National Security Council, in Washington, D.C.

According to MTI, Magyar, a state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the sides had discussed mainly bilateral matters, adding that ties between the two countries were "excellent" in spite of the complicated international situation.

He noted the US administration's recent decision to lift sanctions related to the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant, at the request of Hungary, and said the US had also asked that Hungary be open to the American nuclear industry as well as the Russian one.

"We can comply with that request as it dovetails with our intentions," he added.

Magyar acknowledged that "America first" was a basic condition of US foreign policy, but said the Americans also accepted that Hungary took a similar approach.

"For us, Hungary is first, and we try to assert Hungarian interests," he added.