APA-Pretoria (South Africa) Vietnamese Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan arrived in South Africa on Wednesday evening at the start of a four-day official visit during which she will meet local political and business leaders.
According to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Xuan would hold talks with her South African counterpart Paul Mashatile on Friday and witness the signing of several cooperation agreements.
“The focus areas for discussions between the two governments will include trade, investment, promotion of agricultural products, market access, as well as cooperation in higher education, mineral resources and energy and exchanges on regional and multilateral issues,” DIRCO said in a statement.
Cooperation between the two countries is guided by an Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation and the Joint Technical Committee, which serve as a vehicle to review bilateral relations and identify priority areas for technical cooperation.
Total bilateral trade between South Africa and Vietnam amounted to R23.8 billion (about US$1.3 billion) in 2022, DIRCO said, noting that the trade balance is currently in favour of Vietnam.
“The official visit occurs within the context of the commemoration of thirty (30) years of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Vietnam, to reinvigorate and further strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity between the two countries as well as to further consolidate the multifaceted partnership,” DIRCO said.
It said South Africa and Vietnam “enjoy friendly and constructive relations grounded in a shared history of struggle for freedom and common values supportive of the agenda of the Global South.”
Xuan is accompanied by deputy ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning and Investment, Education and Training; as well as senior government officials and Communist Party of Vietnam and business leaders.
She is expected to meet officials from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Communist Party of South Africa and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
JN/APA