The United States has turned towards Asia in security policy but economic interests still link it with Europe, foreign ministry state secretary Zsolt Németh said on Monday. Németh told an international conference on Hungarian-US relations in Budapest that NATO could play an important role in strengthening economic relations between Europe and the US because guaranteed security is essential for maintaining competitiveness. Hungary is willing to play a proactive role in setting up a European-American free-trade zone, Németh said. Hungary is thankful to the US for the help received to develop its armed forces, he said. Soldiers from the two countries participated in several successful joint operations, and future cooperation is expected in establishing cyber security as well as in other areas of research and development, he added. In the future, Hungary could make an increased contribution to the NATO budget because the country’s GDP is projected to grow from this year, Németh said.