Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung was speaking at a reception tomark the 17 th anniversary of the National Day of South Africa, inHanoi on April 27.
Hung said that the Vietnamesepeople were delighted at South Africa’s great achievements under theleadership of President Jacob Zuma and the African National Congressduring the national construction and defence, raising the country’s roleon international and regional forums.
He added thatthe South African Vice President’s visit to Vietnam last October and theupcoming visit of Vietnamese Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan toSouth Africa are proof of the close bilateral relationship.
Addressing the reception, South African Ambassador to Vietnam,Ratabatsi Super Moloi underlined that the National Day marks a milestonein the history of South African peoples' fighting for independence,paving the way to build a democratic country without racial and sexdiscrimination.
The diplomat expressed thanks tointernational friends for their support during the fight to eliminatethe apartheid regime, as well as during the current nationalconstruction and defence of his country./.