Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a welcome ceremony on December 14 at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi for Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile, who is currently on an official working visit to the country from December 12-15, VNA reported.

After that, she held talks with the Deputy President of South Africa, welcomed his visit on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-South Africa diplomatic ties.

Deputy President Mashatile receives a warm welcome upon arriving in the country. Photo: VOV

Mashatile said his visit follows the recent trip to South Africa by Vice President Xuan in September. It is to further propel bilateral ties across economy, trade, education-training, biodiversity conservation and environment, contributing to generating new momentum for the multifaceted cooperative ties between the two countries.

As there remains untapped potential of bilateral cooperation, especially in economy and trade, he wished that Vietnam would open its market to goods of South Africa's strengths, especially agricultural products and agro-processing, electric vehicles and batteries for electric cars.

Both sides agreed to further step up collaboration through the Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy channels; increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, as well as between ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to consolidate political trust, create a driving force for bilateral ties, effectively realize bilateral cooperation mechanisms and accelerate the organization of the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-South Africa Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum and another meeting of the Joint Trade Committee next year.

The guest thanked Vietnam for supporting South Africa’s bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in July. He hoped that Vietnam woul support enhancing its partnership with ASEAN, affirming readiness to assist Vietnam in strengthening cooperation with the Southern African Customs Union.

In reply, Xuan suggested both sides step up negotiations on establishing frameworks for bilateral trade and investment cooperation, such as the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, investment promotion and protection agreement, and mining cooperation agreement.

The talks between Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile in Hanoi on December 14. Photo: VNA

South Africa is currently the largest trading partner of Vietnam in Africa, with bilateral trade averaging USD 1.2 billion per year. It has invested USD 620,000 in Vietnam, while Vietnamese investment in South Africa so far totals about USD 8.16 million.

The two sides affirmed their determination to lift two-way trade USD 2 billion in the coming time and encouraged investments in each other's market in various potential areas such as electric vehicles and their batteries, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, mining, natural resources and environment, and wildlife conservation.

They agreed to spread agricultural cooperation models involving three or more parties within the South-South framework, explore and propose the involvement of other African nations to launch the models.

Host and guest promised to enhance coordination in national defence-security, soon hold the third defence policy dialogue, and step up people-to-people exchange.

On the back of the initial results of education cooperation, they aimed to further facilitate the exchange of students in tertiary establishments, share experience and teaching materials in areas of mutual strength, and build programs to popularize culture, thus creating favorable conditions for the entry of citizens from both countries.

The two leaders also briefed each other about the situation of each country and discussed global and regional issues of shared concern.

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile witness the exchange of an MoU on cooperation in tertiary education after their talks in Hanoi on December 14. Photo: VNA

At the talks, they witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tertiary education between the two governments.

On the same day, the South African Deputy President met with President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

First-ever Vietnam Pho Day Held in South Africa Despite the hot summer afternoon weather, many South Africans, members of diplomatic corps from other countries as well as the Vietnamese community living, working and ...

Vietnamese Non La Makes An Impression On South African People During the Vietnamese Pho Day event in South Africa in 2023, Vietnamese Non La won the love of South Africans and international friends.

Vietnam - South Africa Needs to Exploit Diverse Areas of Cooperation Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) received Humile Mashatile, spouse of South African Vice President Paul Mashatile in ...