Ample Room for Vietnam - South Africa Cooperation

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Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh’s official visit to South Africa is from July 13-16 (Photo: VNA).

On July 14, NA Vice Chairman Vu Hong Thanh had a meeting with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI).

At the meeting, he gave an overview of Vietnam's socio-economic development, emphasizing that there is ample room for Vietnam-South Africa cooperation. He noted that SACCI and the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation, stating that two sides need to actively inform the business community of the two countries about the environment, investment and trade policies; needs, opportunities for cooperation and trade to develop together.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh (Photo: VNA).

In response, SACCI CEO Alan Mokoki-Hlongwane assessed Vietnam as a partner in trade relations and people-to-people exchanges. He agreed that the two countries have great potential, sharing a common vision for economic development and solving internal problems.

South Africa is focusing on solving the increasing unemployment, economic cooperation, trade, investment. The focus is an important solution to help develop the economy, stabilize society, and strengthen cooperation for the benefit of the two countries.

Regarding the implementation of the MOU between the two trade promotion agencies, the SACCI CEO proposed to establish a business council with the participation of 6-12 representatives of each country. The council should hold a regular meeting mechanism, possibly once a quarter to discuss cooperation opportunities and common goals of the two sides.

SACCI CEO Alan Mokoki-Hlongwane (Photo: VNA).

Earlier, at the headquarters of the Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa in Pretoria, the high-level delegation from National Assembly of Vietnam met with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy to South Africa and the Vietnamese community.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Sy Cuong introduced the Embassy's activities and personnel. He updated the delegation about the economic, socio-political, foreign policy situation of South Africa and Vietnam-South Africa bilateral relations in recent years.

There are currently about 200 Vietnamese, scattering in many cities of South Africa. In May 2023, the Embassy supported the community to establish the Vietnamese Community Liaison Committee in South Africa, contributing to gathering and building a united and strong community.

The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa is considered the bridge between two peoples. Also, it has actively organized community activities, activities towards the homeland, preserving and promoting the cultural, historical, national and human values of Vietnam in South Africa. If any problems related to Vietnamese people in South Africa, the Embassy help to promptly prevent and solve.

In the meeting, representatives of the Vietnamese community in South Africa expressed their pleasure to welcome the delegation. They affirmed that although it is a small community, most of them have a relatively stable life, comply well with local laws. They always work on preserving the national cultural identity and look toward to the Fatherland.

The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa is considered the bridge between two peoples (Photo: VNA).

The community recognizes and appreciates the consistent foreign policy of the Party and the State, considering the overseas Vietnamese community as an inseparable part of the nation’s population. They highly appreciated the amendment of the Constitution and many recent laws in the direction of being more open and convenient for overseas Vietnamese, from the issue of nationality and permanent residence to the investment connecting domestic and foreign countries.

In his remarks, NA Vice Chairman Vu Hong Thanh sent warm greetings, and health wishes to the participants and all the overseas Vietnamese in South Africa.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh highly appreciated the activities of the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa (Photo: VNA).

He emphasized that South Africa is Vietnam's largest trading partner and leading export market in Africa with a total bilateral trade turnover of nearly US $1.8 billion in 2024.

In April 2025, General Secretary To Lam had a "historic" telephonic conversation with the Chairman of the African National Congress (ANC) Party, the President of South Africa and gave a strategic orientation to promote bilateral relations in the new period.

Implementing the commitment of the two countries' senior leaders, this visit aims to strengthen political relations and deepen parliamentary cooperation, making parliamentary relations one of the pillars of bilateral cooperation. The visit also contributes to expanding cooperation, exploiting potential and strengths, and realizing the goals of the two countries in the new development period.

Recognizing and appreciating the contributions of the Vietnamese community around the world as well as in South Africa, NA Vice Chairman Vu Hong Thanh was pleased to see that the community is increasingly stable, united and developing, always looking towards the homeland and becoming a significantly important bridge in the Vietnam-South Africa friendship.

He believes that the community will continue to promote the tradition of patriotism, preserve the cultural identity and the Vietnamese language, join hands to build a developed community, live and work according to the law and integrate well into the host society. They will make a great contribution to the development of the host country as well as the Vietnam-South Africa friendship, he said.

Praising the activities of the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa in recent times, he suggested that the Embassy continue to pay attention and do better work for the Vietnamese community, support them to integrate well into the host society, to become more united, developed with strength, and to organize many activities to gather them, look towards the homeland.

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