Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam values its traditional friendship with South Africa, its close friend and first African partner with which it established a partnership for cooperation and development framework in 2004, State President Luong Cuong told visiting South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa during their talks in Hanoi on October 23.
President Cuong congratulated South Africa on significant achievements it has made under the leadership of the Government of National Unity (GNU), expressing his belief that the African country will successfully assume the G20 Presidency in 2025, host the first-ever G20 Summit in Africa, and continue to be a leading economy in the continent with a strong voice in international forums.
Highlighting the historic bond between Vietnam and South Africa, rooted in their shared ideals of independence, freedom, and the noble spirit of Afro-Asian solidarity, President Cuong stressed that even after seven decades, the spirit of solidarity between the two nations remains as strong as ever.
President Cuong underlined the significant achievements in bilateral relations in recent years, noting the strengthened political trust and close ties across Party, State, and parliamentary channels. He said that economic cooperation has been stronger, making South Africa Vietnam’s top trade partner in Africa. The two countries have also maintained close coordination in multilateral forums and on regional and international issues.
For his part, Ramaphosa expressed admiration for Vietnam’s resilience, and praised the country’s remarkable achievements over the 40-year “Doi moi” (renewal) processs, particularly its high economic growth and improvements in people’s living standards. The South African guest expressed support and appreciation for Vietnam’s hosting of the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, and hailed Vietnam’s leading role in digital transformation efforts.
He noted that the South African delegation includes many ministers in key sectors, reflecting the high regard for the longstanding and multifaceted friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnam is a close friend and key partner of South Africa in Asia, he stated, stressing that his trip demonstrates the South African state’s and government’s determination to strengthen and develop this important partnership as part of its strategy to expand markets amid significant transformations in the country and the world.
The two leaders agreed on orientations, and pledged to complete the necessary procedures to upgrade the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in 2025, aiming to drive deeper cooperation between the two countries, for the benefit of their peoples, and for peace and development in the region and the world.
They committed to further deepening political trust through more frequent exchanges at all levels and across party, state, and parliamentary channels, and inter-agency exchanges; and enhance existing cooperation mechanisms and promptly hold the next sessions of the Vietnam – South Africa inter-governmental partnership forum, the political consutation between the two foreign ministries, the joint trade committee, and the defence policy dialogue.
The two sides agreed to promote trade and investment as a motivation and crucial measure to achieve qualitative improvements in economic ties, matching market size and demand while ensuring mutual benefits. The leaders urged opening markets to each other’s key products and businesses, facilitating access to regional markets.
They pledged to boost cooperation in key and high-potential areas such as defence, security, energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, peacekeeping, education, vocational training, infrastructure, and green economy. They also plan to coordinate in organising people-to-people exchange activities, including in arts, culture, sports, and tourism, to strengthen mutual understanding. The two countries will also work together to finalise the legal framework, particularly foundational agreements on mutual legal assistance, mineral exploitation, double taxation avoidance, and visa exemption for ordinary passport holders.
Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides affirmed to continue their close coordination, and support each other in multilateral forums and on global and regional matters. They agreed to promote the resolution of disputes by peaceful measures, refraining from the use or threat of force, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
The South African President affirmed his country’s readiness to support Vietnam’s candidacies in UN bodies.
Vietnam called for South Africa’s support for ASEAN’s and Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue, aiming to ensure peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and to resolve disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The two leaders met with the press following their talks the same day./.
