Vietnam regards South Africa as one of the leading partners in Africa, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a reception for visiting South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane in Hanoi on September 6.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane

He stated the Vietnamese Government and people always attach importance to the traditional friendship and partnership for cooperation and development with South Africa.

Highlighting the developing bilateral economic and trade relations, he said that the two countries see great potential to further boost these ties.

PM Phuc suggested Vietnam and South Africa increase all-level visits by Party, State and National Assembly delegations as well as people-to-people exchange.

The two sides need to continue mutual support at international forums as well as promote the signing of cooperation agreements in order to create a favourable legal framework for bilateral relations, he said.

They should make every effort to bring two-way trade to 2 billion USD per year in the coming time by facilitating trade of products of their strength, he said, adding that he encourages South African businesses to increase investment in Vietnam.

He also thanked the African country for supporting Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. 

Vietnam is willing to share experience in economic development with South African, he noted.

For his part, the South African minister said her visit aims to learn from Vietnam’s economic development experience.

She expressed her wish that the bilateral ties will further develop through the enhanced cooperation in economy, infrastructure development and education.

VNA