Szijjártó, who is traveling with a government delegation led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, said Turkmenistan's big gas fields could be an alternative source of supply, but acknowledged a lack of infrastructure for bringing that gas to Europe.

Hungary has an "extraordinary interest" in seeing that infrastructure built, he said.

Szijjártó said a number of important bilateral agreements would be signed on Friday, including ones on investment protection and cooperation in higher education.

The visit also offers an opportunity to develop economic ties, expanding Hungarian exports of pharmaceuticals and water management technologies, he added.