Bucharest, Sep 8 (IANS): Visiting Hungarian President Katalin Novak said that her country supports Romania's bid to join the Schengen open-border zone.

Novak made the remark during a joint press conference with her Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis after their meeting at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Hungary supports Romania's accession to the Schengen zone, and Romania can count on Hungary's support in this regard," said Novak, the first Hungarian head of state to visit Bucharest in 12 years.

Romania joined the European Union (EU) in 2007 and is one of the five EU countries that are not included in the Schengen Area.

Iohannis said Romania is always ready for dialogues and consolidating bilateral cooperation.

"Romania wants this cooperation with Hungary... to be carried out in the best circumstances and have a positive dynamics, of further development, to the interest of the citizens in the two countries, regardless of their ethnic origin," said Iohannis.

The media here generally believe that the current visit of the Hungarian President is conducive to improving relations between the two countries after their recent discord due to ethnic minorities and some other issues.