South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has endorsed the elevation of relations between South Africa and Vietnam to a strategic partnership, aimed at deepening trade and investment ties, strengthening South-South cooperation, and adapting to shifts in global trade dynamics.

The announcement came on Thursday during official talks with Vietnamese President Lương Cường at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. According to President Ramaphosa, the upgraded partnership will foster stronger institutional engagement, structured collaboration, and enhance both countries’ capacity to respond to global and regional challenges. He also underscored the growing strategic importance of Southeast Asia to Africa and Vietnam’s rising global influence.

High-level delegations from both nations held discussions on expanding cooperation in trade, agriculture, defense, justice, and mineral resources. President Ramaphosa stressed the importance of reinforcing economic ties among developing nations amid a global climate marked by protectionism and trade disputes.

Established in 1994, diplomatic relations between South Africa and Vietnam have steadily expanded through trade, political dialogue, and development cooperation. Bilateral trade has recently surpassed $1 billion, positioning Vietnam as one of South Africa’s key partners in Southeast Asia.

President Ramaphosa also welcomed Vietnam’s invitation to the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg and encouraged Vietnamese businesses to explore opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing South Africa as a strategic gateway to the continent.

The new strategic partnership between South Africa and Vietnam opens the door to deeper economic exchange and enhanced collaboration across multiple sectors — a step forward in the pursuit of sustainable development and inclusive global growth.