(VNF) - Vietnam and South Africa have agreed to cement their cooperation in a variety of fields, including measures to protect endangered wild animals.

The decision was reached during talks between Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and her South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, in Hanoi on October 3^rd, as part of the latter’s official visit to the Southeast Asian country scheduled for October 3^rd-4^th.

Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (R) and Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: VNA)

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the positive development of the South Africa-Vietnam relationship over the past 20 years, especially after the establishment of the two nations’ partnership for cooperation and development in 2004.

They reached consensus on the enhancement of cooperation in multiple fields, including practical measures to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in a bid to protect wildlife animals.

Cooperative ties between the Vietnamese and South African Parties will also be fostered, creating a foundation for more high-level delegation exchanges and bilateral collaboration in politics, economic matters, and trade.

The two sides also pledged to continue mutual support at international forums.

Regarding the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, Vice President Ramaphosa backed Hanoi’s stance on the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

In terms of economic cooperation, Vietnam and South Africa will cement their ties in agriculture, aquaculture, shipbuilding, and others, striving to double the current bilateral trade turnover.

The two leaders also discussed measures to expand collaboration in telecommunications, training, and crime fighting among others.

The official visit to Vietnam by Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to create new development in the bilateral traditional friendship, especially in the sea-based economy.

Vietnam’s fishing and aquatic breeding sector constitutes one of the important development programmes to help South Africa reduce poverty and address unemployment.

According to the latest statistics from South Africa, Vietnam is currently its fourth biggest trade partner in Southeast Asia with two-way trade surpassing 18.5 billion Rand (around USD1.3 billion) compared to 13.4 billion Rand (USD1.1 billion) in 2014./.

( Compiled by VNF )