Early upgrading of Vietnam - South Africa relations to Strategic Partnership in 2025

President Luong Cuong said that Vietnam and South Africa have a close historical relationship stemming from the common ideal of independence, freedom and the noble spirit of Asian-African solidarity.

President Luong Cuong and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

After 70 years, the spirit of solidarity between the two nations remains intact. Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with South Africa - a close friend and the first African partner with whom Vietnam established a partnership for cooperation and development in 2004.

Looking back at the relationship between the two countries, President Luong Cuong said that the two sides have achieved very important achievements.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is delighted to return to visit Vietnam, admires Vietnam's resilience, perseverance and admires its impressive achievements.

At the end of the talks, President Luong Cuong and President Cyril Ramaphosa met the press.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the delegation visiting Vietnam includes many veteran ministers in important fields.

The President shared that Vietnam is a close friend and important partner of South Africa in the Asian region. The visit aims to affirm South Africa's determination to strengthen and develop the important partnership with Vietnam.

The President believes that, in the spirit of goodwill and sincerity, the Vietnam - South Africa cooperation relationship will increasingly develop, deepen and become more effective.

President Luong Cuong and President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed on the orientation and strive to complete procedures to soon upgrade the framework of Vietnam - South Africa relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2025, aiming to create a strong impetus to develop the bilateral relationship in depth, for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace and development in the region and the world.

The two leaders agreed to further deepen political closeness and trust through increased exchanges of delegations at all levels.

In terms of economy, the two sides agreed that promoting trade and investment cooperation is the driving force and central solution to create qualitative changes in economic cooperation, commensurate with the scale and market demand, ensuring a balance of interests for both sides. The two leaders proposed that the two countries open their markets to each side's strong goods and businesses.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation in defense, security, energy, mining, manufacturing industry, agriculture, peacekeeping, education, vocational training, infrastructure, green economy, etc.; coordinate the organization of people-to-people exchange activities, arts, culture, sports and tourism exchanges.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was delighted to return to Vietnam and thanked Vietnam for the warm, friendly and thoughtful reception it gave the delegation.

The two countries will also complete the legal framework, especially fundamental documents such as the Agreement on Judicial Assistance, the Agreement on Mineral Exploitation, the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation, and the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides affirmed to continue to coordinate, cooperate closely, and support each other at multilateral forums; agreed to promote the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, not using or threatening to use force on the basis of respect for international law and the United Nations Charter...

Also this afternoon, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was pleased with the positive developments in the bilateral relationship in many areas with high trust.

South Africa has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Africa. The two countries have always been good friends, good partners, always supporting and helping each other.

The Prime Minister said that the two countries have strengths that can complement each other for mutual development and that there is still great room and potential for cooperation. He said that they should continue to expand cooperation in green transformation, digital transformation, creative economy, renewable energy, communications, and climate change response.

The Prime Minister asked South Africa to support Vietnam in soon starting negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Southern African Customs Union.

The two leaders visited a photo exhibition on Vietnam - South Africa cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was pleased to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa again, recalling his deep impressions of the country and people of South Africa during his visit to South Africa in 2019.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his joy at witnessing Vietnam's outstanding and historic achievements after nearly 40 years of renovation, inspiring South Africa and developing countries.

Vietnam is a close friend and trusted partner of South Africa in the Asian region. The President highly appreciated Vietnam's effective development model and open, active and responsible foreign policy towards the international community.

The two countries have strengths that can complement each other to develop together and enhance their position in the international arena.

The South African President hopes that the two sides will strengthen connections between mining enterprises, manufacturing industry, agriculture, electric cars, high-quality human resource training, maritime...

President Ramaphosa thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for accepting the invitation to attend the G20 Summit, demonstrating Vietnam's responsible contribution to promoting sustainable development and reforming global governance mechanisms.

The Prime Minister said that the two countries have strengths that can complement each other for mutual development and have room and potential to promote cooperation.

The President of South Africa affirmed that Vietnam is a close friend and trusted partner of South Africa in the Asian region.

Emphasizing that economic, trade and investment cooperation is the focus of cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote market opening for each side's goods and products and actively negotiate and soon sign more important cooperation documents...

The two leaders agreed to soon complete internal procedures to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2025, making the Vietnam-South Africa relationship a model of cooperation between southern countries.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/som-nang-cap-quan-he-viet-nam-nam-phi-len-doi-tac-chien-luoc-trong-nam-2025-2455796.html