Vietnam, South Africa forge closer strategic cooperation across Asia and Africa

Vietnam and South Africa have upgraded their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, marking a significant step forward in their rapidly expanding political, economic and security cooperation.

The move follows Ramaphosa’s State visit to Vietnam to Vietnam in October and Prime Minister Chinh’s participation in the G20 Summit in Johannesburg from November 21 to 23.

Under the Joint Statement signed on November 21, the new partnership aims to deepen cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels while advancing peace and stability regionally and globally.

It also reaffirms commitments to independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in line with the UN Charter.

Both sides agreed to step up high-level exchanges across Party, State and local channels to consolidate political trust. They stressed the importance of peace and stability in Asia and Africa and pledged support for multilateralism.

Vietnam and South Africa will work together in international organizations to reform global governance, advance the role of developing countries and elevate the voice of the Global South.

The countries reaffirmed support for ASEAN and the African Union and pledged to enhance South-South cooperation.

The partnership includes closer collaboration in defense training, industry, UN peacekeeping and tackling non-traditional security challenges.

They will maintain the Deputy-ministerial Defense Policy Dialogue, promote academic exchanges, speed up agreements, share security information and cooperate on cybersecurity, high-tech crimes, drug trafficking and transnational organized crimes.

Economic ties remain a key pillar and both countries will work to boost two-way trade and investment, ease market access and support businesses in using each other’s markets as gateways through ASEAN and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

They pledged to create a fair, transparent and enabling environment for trade, investment and tourism and explore direct flights between major cities.

Regular Joint Trade Committee meetings will monitor cooperation and both countries will coordinate on economic issues in international organizations.

Vietnam and South Africa will strengthen cooperation in minerals, mining, manufacturing, supporting industries, and oil and gas services. Energy cooperation will focus on renewables, efficient energy use, emission reduction and electric vehicle production.

They will also promote collaboration in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, circular economy, climate action, biodiversity preservation, infrastructure and maritime and aviation services.

The partnership also covers digital transformation, AI, green technology and the circular economy.

Both sides will expand academic exchanges, scholarships and joint programs in leadership, education technology, vocational training and upskilling.

People-to-people exchanges are also highlighted, with efforts to boost cooperation among businesses, localities and communities to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding.

Concrete actions

At the meeting, the two leaders also discussed other issues, focusing on tasking relevant agencies to develop an action plan to implement the Joint Statement and create breakthroughs that make Vietnam-South Africa relations a model of South-South cooperation. 

Economic, trade and investment cooperation was identified as a priority and the two countries will soon negotiate an agreement and set up a working group to open markets, aiming to raise bilateral trade to US$5 billion in the next two or three years.

PM Chinh proposed upgrading the Inter-governmental Committee to the Foreign Minister level and suggested South Africa promote the launch of FTA negotiations with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Both sides will facilitate businesses to expand cooperation in infrastructure, green economy, digital economy, telecommunications, agricultural processing, energy, electric vehicles and the Halal industry.

Defense and security, science and technology, innovation and artificial intelligence cooperation will also be promoted, along with collaboration in tourism, education, labor, sports, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The two countries will soon sign key cooperation documents, including agreements on double tax avoidance, visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders and cooperation on crime prevention.

On regional and international issues, both sides agreed to work closely at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, G77 and G20.

President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Prime Minister’s proposals, welcomed Vietnam’s practical and efficient approach and sense of urgency, and pledged to direct South African agencies to coordinate closely to implement the agreed outcomes.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam and South Africa have always stood together in the struggle for independence and human rights and will continue to work together in building and developing their countries based on trust and brotherhood.

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