South Africa president first visits Vietnam in two decades
President Ramaphosa’s visit to Vietnam, part of his Asian tour, highlights South Africa’s engagement with ASEAN, with Vietnam serving as a bridge, and his attendance at the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention).
THE HANOI TIMES — President Cyril Ramaphosa was welcomed in Hanoi today [October 23] for a three-day state visit to Vietnam, the first by a South African head of state to the Southeast Asian country in nearly two decades.
Vietnam's President Luong Cuong welcomes South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on October 23. Photos: Thanh Long/Baoquocte
The visit represents a milestone in bilateral relations and opens a new phase of deeper and more substantive cooperation between the two countries.
At the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, President Luong Cuong hosted an official welcoming ceremony for President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh, and senior officials from ministries, agencies and Hanoi authorities.
Vietnam and South Africa’s ties date back to the 1960s and were formalized in 1993, rooted in shared solidarity during struggles for independence and Vietnam’s support for South Africa’s fight against Apartheid and democratic transition.
The two countries have developed a partnership grounded in solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation in politics, trade, education, defense, crime prevention and people-to-people exchanges.
As Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade nearing US$1.8 billion in 2024, South Africa works closely with Vietnam across key sectors and international forums.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Vietnam is the first paid by South African head of state to the country in nearly two decades.
Ahead of the visit, South African Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the trip takes place at a meaningful time as Vietnam celebrates the 80th anniversary of its independence.
He told the Vietnam News Agency that both nations share profound historical experiences and values shaped by struggles for freedom and resilience.
The visit aims to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and expand cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, defense and technology.
According to Magwenya, President Ramaphosa views the visit as a vital part of South Africa’s trade diversification strategy, helping the country strengthen access to Asian markets and enhance South–South cooperation.
Magwenya said that South Africa has learned much from Vietnam’s post-war reconstruction and development journey.
He also underlined President Ramaphosa’s aspiration to enhance people-to-people exchanges, knowledge sharing and coordination at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the G20 and other international organizations, contributing to fairer global governance for the Global South.
Vietnam is a bridge linking South Africa and ASEAN.
The visit to Vietnam is part of President Ramaphosa’s Asian tour, which includes a State visit to Indonesia and participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit as a guest of the Chair. Magwenya described this as an opportunity to deepen South Africa’s engagement with ASEAN, with Vietnam playing a key bridging role in connecting the two regions.
During his visit to Vietnam, President Ramaphosa is scheduled to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Countering Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention.
Magwenya stressed that cybercrime poses a global challenge requiring close international cooperation, especially as artificial intelligence advances rapidly. South Africa is committed to global collaboration in building governance frameworks that ensure AI contributes positively to sustainable development and benefits for nations of the Global South.
President Ramaphosa’s visit is expected to reinforce political trust, promote practical cooperation and further advance the Vietnam–South Africa partnership toward peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
