Soon upgrade Vietnam - South Africa relations to Strategic Partnership

VTV.vn - This afternoon (October 23), President Luong Cuong chaired the welcoming ceremony and held talks with South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa during his State visit to Vietnam.

President Luong Cuong and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa pose for a photo before their meeting. (Photo: VNA)

President Luong Cuong welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa back to Vietnam and congratulated South Africa on its outstanding achievements under the leadership of the Government of National Unity; he expressed confidence that South Africa would successfully assume the role of G20 Chair this year, successfully organize the first G20 Summit held in Africa; and continue to be a leading developed economy in the continent, with an important voice in international forums.

President Luong Cuong affirmed that Vietnam and South Africa have a close historical relationship stemming from shared ideals for independence, freedom, and the noble spirit of Asian-African solidarity. For the past 70 years, this solidarity between the two nations has remained invaluable. Vietnam always values ​​its relationship with South Africa, a close friend and the first African partner with whom Vietnam established a framework for Partnership for Cooperation and Development.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa held a private meeting. (Photo: VNA)

President Cyril Ramaphosa admired Vietnam's courageous and resilient fighting spirit in its resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, and was impressed by the great and comprehensive achievements Vietnam has attained. He affirmed that South Africa supports, highly appreciates, and trusts that Vietnam will successfully organize the important international event of the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

The President emphasized that Vietnam is a close friend and important partner of South Africa in the Asian region, and this visit affirms South Africa's determination to strengthen and develop traditional solidarity and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam amidst profound changes taking place in South Africa and around the world .

President Luong Cuong expressed his pleasure at the development of relations between the two countries in recent years, making South Africa a leading trading partner of Vietnam in Africa. Based on the close historical relationship stemming from shared ideals for independence and freedom, and the positive achievements of cooperation, the two Heads of State agreed on the direction and agreed to complete the procedures to soon upgrade the Vietnam-South Africa bilateral cooperation framework to a Strategic Partnership, aiming to create a strong impetus to deepen the relationship between the two countries, for the benefit of the people of both countries and for peace and development in the region and the world.

Both sides agreed to deepen political closeness and trust through exchanges of delegations at all levels across all channels, to more effectively implement existing mechanisms, to soon hold the next sessions of the Vietnam-South Africa Intergovernmental Partnership Forum, political consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Joint Trade Committee, and the Defence Policy Dialogue.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa held talks. (Photo: VNA)

Both sides agreed to promote trade and investment cooperation as the driving force and central solution to create a qualitative transformation in economic cooperation, commensurate with the scale and needs of the market, ensuring a balance of mutual interests. They proposed that the two countries open their markets to each other's strong products and allow businesses from each side to penetrate each other's markets and the regional market.

The President affirmed that Vietnam is ready to create favorable conditions for large South African corporations in the fields of technology, finance, and minerals to invest and do business, and requested South Africa to give priority to Vietnamese businesses in accessing, exploring the market, and investing in South Africa.

Both sides affirmed their determination to cooperate in potential areas, coordinating the organization of people-to-people exchanges, cultural and artistic exchanges, sports and tourism. The two leaders also agreed to continue to coordinate closely, support each other in multilateral forums and on international issues. The President requested South Africa's support for ASEAN and Vietnam's stance on the East Sea issue. Both sides also met with the press to inform them about the outstanding results of the talks.

On this occasion, the President of South Africa respectfully invited the President of Vietnam to visit South Africa. President Luong Cuong happily accepted the invitation and affirmed that Vietnam is ready to contribute to the success of South Africa's G20 chairmanship year with the theme "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability," as well as actively cooperate with South Africa within this mechanism.

Source: https://vtv.vn/som-nang-cap-quan-he-viet-nam-nam-phi-len-doi-tac-chien-luoc-100251023194958536.htm