South Africa, Vietnam bolster cooperation

 South Africa treasures the Vietnamese potential market and considers it an important gateway to Southeast Asia, said Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa.

At the August 4 talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai who is visiting South Africa, Mr. Ramaphosa spoke highly of Hai’s visit, considering it an excellent chance to review cooperation in recent times and devise measures to uphold the sound traditional friendly relations in the coming years.

The South African VP stressed the 60-year relationship between the ruling Party - the African National Congress (ANC) and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), adding that Vietnam’s victory over imperialism and colonialism inspired the ANC to fight against apartheid and build a democratic and developed South Africa in national harmony as present.

Deputy PM Hai in turn said South Africa’s current position is demonstrated through its contribution to the peace-keeping mission in Africa and its increasing role in international organisations like United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement, G20 and BRICS ( the group of Brazil, Russia, India and China).

During the talks, the two leaders discussed many issues of mutual concern, including further promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation.

They agreed that trade relations are still far below the two countries’ potential and they should further enhance cooperation in defence, science and technology, shipbuilding, agriculture, food processing, and aquaculture.

At a press briefing after that, VP Ramaphosa said Deputy PM Hai’s visit opened more cooperation opportunities. He believed that total bilateral trade volume will double last year’s figure of around US$1 billion and particularly, to export South Africa’s key products to Vietnam.

He esteemed the results of Vietnam’s poverty reduction programme and desired to share experience with the country in this field.

VOV