Vietnam's state president hosts welcome ceremony for South African counterpart

At 3:40 pm, President Ramaphosa's motorcade arrived at the Presidential Palace, where he was warmly received by President Cuong.

The two leaders proceeded to the honor podium as ceremonial music played and children waved the national flags of both countries.

The national anthems of South Africa and Vietnam were performed by the military band before the leaders reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army and introduced members of their respective delegations.

Following the ceremony, the two presidents held a private meeting and later presided over high-level talks between the delegations of both nations.

President Ramaphosa's state visit, taking place from Thursday to Friday at President Cuong's invitation, is his first to Vietnam as head of state, following his previous trip in October 2016 as vice-president.

The last visit to Vietnam by a South African president was in May 2007.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Sy Cuong, the visit marks an important milestone in bilateral relations and demonstrates both countries' determination to deepen cooperation.

South Africa remains Vietnam's top trading partner and largest export market in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching US$1.8 billion in 2024.

It is also the only African country with which Vietnam has established a partnership for cooperation and development.

Ambassador Cuong expressed confidence that the visit will strengthen political trust and help accelerate negotiations on new cooperation agreements, while expanding collaboration in green energy, e-commerce, and innovation.

On the multilateral front, President Ramaphosa's visit coincides with his broader diplomatic engagements in Southeast Asia and participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, reaffirming South Africa's commitment to enhancing its ties with the region, particularly with Vietnam.