Croatia supports the strengthening of cooperation between the countries of Central Europe, notably after it joins the EU, Sprem told Hina after all the Hungarian officials he met with pointed to the need of strengthening that cooperation.
Orban was especially interested in Croatian-Hungarian economic cooperation. Sprem said Orban was interested in what Croatia was doing and which instruments it was using to overcome the economic crisis.
Sprem said he informed Orban about project plans, including for strategic partnership projects between the two countries in energy and oil and gas pipelines.
The two officials also discussed cultural cooperation and national minorities.
"The Croatian minority in Hungary and the Hungarian minority in Croatia enjoy high protection. Their status is good but can be even better," said Sprem.
He went on to say that Foreign Minister Janos Martony and Parliament Speaker Laszlo Koever, with whom he also met, said Hungary was drawing up an election bill that would regulate the entry of national minority deputies into parliament.
According to official figures, Hungary has a population of 30,000 Croats. Sprem met with their representatives.
He also attended a reception at the Croatian Embassy on the occasion of Croatia's upcoming Statehood Day and the 20-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Hungary.
"The history of our countries' relations is much longer than the past 20 years," Sprem said at the reception. "Those ties were built for centuries and we must build them even more strongly now that Croatia too is getting ready to join the EU."
"Hungary deserves plenty of credit for Croatia's NATO membership and upcoming EU membership because of its assistance and support," said Sprem.
Parliament Speaker Koever said at the reception that Hungary viewed Croatia as a neighbour and a strategic partner with which it was building close and friendly relations.
He said the two countries were linked by their history as well as their future in the EU.