Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that South Africa is atraditional friend and one of the leading partners of Vietnam inAfrica.
FM Minh made the statement during talkswith South African Minister of International Relations and CooperationMaite Nkoana Mashabane on August 6 during his two-day visit to thecountry.
He congratulated the South African peoplefor significant achievements they have reaped under the leadership ofthe African National Congress (ANC), placing the country on the top ofthe continent in various fields, including economics, culture, educationand science-technology.
Minister Maite NkoanaMashabane described Minh’s visit as a new momentum for further fosteringthe two countries’ relations.
She confirmed thatSouth Africa highly values Vietnam ’s role in the region and atinternational forums, expressing hope that Vietnam will serve as abridge linking the South Africa Development Community (SADC) and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Shevoiced wish that the two countries will continue coordination and mutualsupport at international forums, especially the United Nations, theSouth-South cooperation framework and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Regarding bilateral ties, the two ministers expressed their delight atthe developing traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnamand South Africa over the past years, especially since they set uptheir partnership for cooperation and development in 2004.
The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of all-level delegationsand people-to-people exchange activities as well as continuemaintaining regular meetings between the Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV) and the ANC, considering it a firm political foundation to developbilateral ties in a comprehensive and intensive manner in the future.
They also reached consensus on priority areas andmeasures to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture,science and technology, defence, tourism and environment, striving toraise two-way trade to more than 1 billion USD in the coming years.
Both sides shared determination to speed up negotiations for thesigning of the agreement on double taxation avoidance and agreement oninvestment encouragement and protection, creating a favourable legalframework for businesses of both countries.
Theyalso agreed on the expansion of a tripartite cooperation model that hasbeen effectively implemented in Guinea Conakry and other Africancountries.
The African side spoke highly ofVietnam ’s efforts and expressed desire to continue strengtheningcooperation with the Southeast Asian nation in combating the illegaltransport and trading of wild animals and related products.
The same day, FM Minh paid a courtesy call to South African PresidentJacob Zuma, who affirmed that the leaders and people of his countryadmire the courage of Vietnamese people during the past struggle forindependence, which was considered an inspiration and a good example forthe South African people to win victory over the Apartheid.
President Zuma stressed that South Africa sees Vietnam as itsreliable friend and ally, expressing wish that the two countries willcontinue tightening their all-round ties, especially in economics andtrade.
During his stay, FM Minh also met with SouthAfrican Minister of Industry and Trade Rob Davies and co-chaired aceremony celebrating the 20 th anniversary of Vietnam-South Africadiplomatic ties in Pretoria.-VNA
FM Minh made the statement during talkswith South African Minister of International Relations and CooperationMaite Nkoana Mashabane on August 6 during his two-day visit to thecountry.
He congratulated the South African peoplefor significant achievements they have reaped under the leadership ofthe African National Congress (ANC), placing the country on the top ofthe continent in various fields, including economics, culture, educationand science-technology.
Minister Maite NkoanaMashabane described Minh’s visit as a new momentum for further fosteringthe two countries’ relations.
She confirmed thatSouth Africa highly values Vietnam ’s role in the region and atinternational forums, expressing hope that Vietnam will serve as abridge linking the South Africa Development Community (SADC) and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Shevoiced wish that the two countries will continue coordination and mutualsupport at international forums, especially the United Nations, theSouth-South cooperation framework and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Regarding bilateral ties, the two ministers expressed their delight atthe developing traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnamand South Africa over the past years, especially since they set uptheir partnership for cooperation and development in 2004.
The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of all-level delegationsand people-to-people exchange activities as well as continuemaintaining regular meetings between the Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV) and the ANC, considering it a firm political foundation to developbilateral ties in a comprehensive and intensive manner in the future.
They also reached consensus on priority areas andmeasures to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture,science and technology, defence, tourism and environment, striving toraise two-way trade to more than 1 billion USD in the coming years.
Both sides shared determination to speed up negotiations for thesigning of the agreement on double taxation avoidance and agreement oninvestment encouragement and protection, creating a favourable legalframework for businesses of both countries.
Theyalso agreed on the expansion of a tripartite cooperation model that hasbeen effectively implemented in Guinea Conakry and other Africancountries.
The African side spoke highly ofVietnam ’s efforts and expressed desire to continue strengtheningcooperation with the Southeast Asian nation in combating the illegaltransport and trading of wild animals and related products.
The same day, FM Minh paid a courtesy call to South African PresidentJacob Zuma, who affirmed that the leaders and people of his countryadmire the courage of Vietnamese people during the past struggle forindependence, which was considered an inspiration and a good example forthe South African people to win victory over the Apartheid.
President Zuma stressed that South Africa sees Vietnam as itsreliable friend and ally, expressing wish that the two countries willcontinue tightening their all-round ties, especially in economics andtrade.
During his stay, FM Minh also met with SouthAfrican Minister of Industry and Trade Rob Davies and co-chaired aceremony celebrating the 20 th anniversary of Vietnam-South Africadiplomatic ties in Pretoria.-VNA
