Hanoi: President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that his State Visit to Vietnam has established a robust groundwork for a more structured and forward-looking partnership, aimed at delivering tangible benefits for the people and contributing significantly to regional and global development. “Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and inclusive multilateralism,” he stated during a media briefing in Hanoi following his official talks with President Luong Cuong.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended by President Luong Cuong, the Government, and the people of Vietnam. The visit coincides with Vietnam’s commemoration of 80 years of independence, marking a significant milestone that underscores the country’s resilience and progress. The President emphasized the historic ties between South Africa and Vietnam, rooted in shared struggles for liberation, sovereignty, and justice.
Reflecting on the bilateral relations established in 1993, President Ramaphosa noted the steady growth from political solidarity to multifaceted cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, education, and multilateral engagement. The visit marks a decisive step toward elevating the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, highlighting a shared commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors, including defence, agriculture, justice and constitutional development, mineral and petroleum resources, and biodiversity conservation.
President Ramaphosa emphasized Vietnam’s role as a key partner in South Africa’s export diversification strategy, noting the encouraging growth in trade and investment between the two nations. He stated that the visit is part of a broader effort to strengthen South Africa’s engagement with Southeast Asia, a region of increasing strategic importance. South Africa’s participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit as Guest of the Chair and its recent recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN underscore this commitment to fostering inter-regional cooperation between Africa and Asia.
The President highlighted Vietnam’s central role in the regional partnership, acknowledging its longstanding friendship with South Africa and its position as a key member of ASEAN. President Ramaphosa’s three-nation visit to Southeast Asia began in Indonesia, followed by the State Visit to Vietnam, and will conclude with a working visit to Malaysia.