By Dikeledi Molobela
Hanoi, Vietnam – President Cyril Ramaphosa says the State Visit to Vietnam has laid a strong foundation for a more structured and forward-looking partnership, one that delivers tangible benefits for the people, and contributes meaningfully to regional and global development.
“Together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, prosperity and inclusive multilateralism,” he said.
The President was speaking during a media briefing in Hanoi on Thursday, following official talks with President Luong Cuong as part of his State Visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
“It is a great honour to be here in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I wish to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to President Lương Cường, the Government and the people of Vietnam for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said the spirit of friendship and solidarity experienced during the visit is deeply valued and reflects the strength of the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
The visit, he added, takes place at a profoundly symbolic moment as Vietnam commemorates 80 years of independence, a milestone that speaks to the country’s enduring resilience and remarkable progress.
READ | President Ramaphosa pushes for elevated South Africa–Vietnam strategic partnership
“It is also a moment to reflect on the historic ties between South Africa and Vietnam, rooted in shared struggles for liberation, sovereignty and justice,” the President said.
The President reflected that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993, the partnership between the two countries has grown steadily from political solidarity to multifaceted cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, education and multilateral engagement.
“Today, we take a decisive step forward with the commencement of a process to elevate our bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. This reflects our shared commitment to deepening cooperation across a range of sectors,” he said.
These sectors include defence, agriculture, justice and constitutional development, mineral and petroleum resources, and biodiversity conservation.
President Ramaphosa said South Africa sees Vietnam as a key partner in its export diversification strategy and is encouraged by the steady growth in trade and investment between the two countries.
“This visit forms part of a broader effort to strengthen South Africa’s engagement with Southeast Asia, a region of growing strategic importance,” he said.
He noted that South Africa’s participation in the 47th ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] Summit as Guest of the Chair, and its recent recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, “reflects [the] commitment to fostering inter-regional cooperation between Africa and Asia”.
“We are building on the legacy of the 1955 Bandung Conference, which laid the foundation for solidarity between our continents,” President Ramaphosa said.
“Vietnam plays a central role in this regional partnership, not only as a longstanding friend of South Africa, but also as a key member of ASEAN,” he said.
President Ramaphosa is on a three-nation visit to the Southeast Asia region, which kicked off in Indonesia, followed by the State Visit to Vietnam. It will conclude with a working visit to Malaysia. – SAnews.gov.za
