The Vice President of the Republic of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, has arrived in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, to begin the second leg of his first working visit to South East Asia. The politician laid a wreath at the mausoleum of the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and conveyed a message of support from the people and government of South Africa through the mausoleum visitors’ book. This is reported by the official website of the South African government.

South Africa and Vietnam enjoy friendly relations based on a shared history of struggle against colonialism and the achievement of national freedom. Both countries share common values such as the pursuit of multilateral co-operation, peace and progressive reform of global governance institutions to overcome geopolitical inequalities.

This year, South Africa and Vietnam are also celebrating 30 years of formal diplomatic relations.

Over the past 30 years, several bilateral legal documents have been signed in various areas of co-operation. An intergovernmental partnership forum on economic, trade, scientific, technical, scientific and cultural co-operation operates between the two countries to promote interaction in areas of common interest.

The Vice President’s visit follows Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan’s trip to South Africa in September this year, where she invited Paul Mashatile to pay an official visit to mark her 30th birthday and strengthen bilateral ties.

As part of his visit to Vietnam, the Vice President will hold official talks with Vo Thi Anh Xuan, meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and make a courtesy visit to Vietnamese PresidentVo Van Thuong.

He will also meet with executives of major Vietnamese companies that are interested in investing in South Africa or supplying goods and services there. Paul Mashatile will also hold meetings with African ambassadors to Vietnam.

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