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 talks. (Photo: VNA)

President Luong Cuong welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa to visit Vietnam again and congratulated South Africa on its remarkable achievements under the leadership of the Government of National Unity; believed 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 the leading developed economy on 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 the common ideal of independence, freedom and the noble spirit of Asia-Africa solidarity. Over the past 70 years, the spirit of solidarity between the two nations remains intact. Vietnam always attaches importance to its relationship with South Africa, a close friend and the first African partner with whom Vietnam established a framework of Partnership for Cooperation and Development.

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

President Cyril Ramaphosa admired Vietnam's heroic and resilient fighting spirit in the resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism and was impressed by the great and comprehensive achievements Vietnam has made; affirmed that South Africa supports, highly appreciates and believes that Vietnam will successfully organize the important international event of the Opening Ceremony of the Signing 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. This visit affirms South Africa's determination to consolidate and develop traditional solidarity and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam in the context of many profound changes taking place in South Africa as well as in the world .

President Luong Cuong expressed his delight at the development of the bilateral relationship in recent times, making South Africa Vietnam's leading trade partner in Africa. Based on the historical ties stemming from the common ideals of independence, freedom and good cooperation achievements, the two Heads of State agreed on the orientation and agreed to complete the procedures to soon upgrade the bilateral cooperation framework between Vietnam and South Africa to a Strategic Partnership, in order to create a strong impetus to develop the bilateral relationship in depth, for the benefit of the people of the two countries and for peace and development in the region and the world.

The two sides agreed to deepen political closeness and trust through the exchange of delegations at all levels through all channels, more effectively deploy existing mechanisms, promptly organize the next meetings of the Vietnam-South Africa Intergovernmental Partnership Forum, political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, the Joint Trade Committee and the Defense Policy Dialogue.

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

The two sides agreed to promote trade and investment cooperation as the driving force and central solution to create qualitative changes in economic cooperation, commensurate with the scale and market demand, ensuring balance of mutual interests, and proposed that the two countries open their markets for each side's strong goods and businesses to penetrate each other's markets and regional markets.

The President affirmed that Vietnam is ready to create conditions for large South African corporations in the fields of technology, finance, and minerals to invest and do business, and at the same time asked South Africa to give priority to Vietnamese enterprises to access, learn about the market, and invest in South Africa.

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

On this occasion, the President of South Africa respectfully invited the President 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 Presidency 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