Hanoi and Tshwane, the administrative capital of South Africa, aim to boost collaboration in areas with high potential, including trade, culture, education, and tourism, said the two cities’ leaderships.

Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen (right) and Tshwane's Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise. Photo: Hoai Thu/The Hanoi Times

Both sides also expect to promote exchanges at various levels to maintain and foster the strong and substantive friendship, they delivered the messages at a meeting on October 27 in Tshwane (local time).

Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Tuyen, was delighted that the Vietnam-South Africa relations have grown strongly since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1993.

She noted that such improvements are realized with the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement signed between Hanoi and Tshwane in November 2007.

Hanoi wants to work with authorities of Tshwane and the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa to enhance connections between the two business communities and promote cooperative opportunities, she said.

Tshwane's Deputy Mayor, Eugene Modise, highlighted that the delegation's visit underscored the solid foundation of their relationship and the aspiration for strong future cooperation between the two capitals.

Hanoi vows best conditions for South African investors

Hanoi Party Committee’s Vice Secretary Tuyen on October 29 pledged that the city will give South African businesses the best environment to explore opportunities in Hanoi.

Hanoi views South Africa as a crucial partner in Africa, recognizing significant cooperation potential across sectors like investment, trade, and tourism, she told a conference themed "Hanoi as a Destination - New Cooperation Opportunities" held in Cape Town.

Hanoi commits to promoting its safe and efficient investment environment to foster connections with South African businesses, organizations, and local governments, she said.

Hanoi and South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials join a group photo. Photo: Hoai Thu/The Hanoi Times

Mtho Xulu, President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that local companies hope to expand potential partnerships with Hanoi and Vietnam.

He highlighted minerals, agricultural processing, ICT development, and emerging service industries as highly potential sectors.

Vice Secretary Tuyen met with John Lawson, CEO of the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Both sides were confident that Hanoi’s cooperative relations with South African localities and businesses will thrive after the conference.

The leaders of the local chambers of commerce and industry also affirmed their commitment to assisting South African businesses to invest in Hanoi and other Vietnamese localities.

Official exchanging roots for Hanoi-Western Cape relations

Government official exchanging plays an important role in promoting cooperation between localities in Vietnam and South Africa, stated Tertuis Simmers, Minister of Infrastructure for Western Cape Province.

He told Hanoi Party Committee’s Vice Secretary Tuyen at a meeting this week that increasing delegation exchanges between the two countries’ localities have underscored the local leaders' interest in upholding the strong friendship and cooperation between the two sides.

Hanoi welcomed delegations of the Premier of Western Cape in 2017 and the Premier of Northern Cape in 2023. Hanoi has also organized delegations of representatives at various levels to visit South Africa for exchanges and to learn from their experiences, according to Tertuis.

At the meeting, the two officials discussed the two cities’ socio-economic developments, and their policies in urban planning and governance.

The Western Cape government want to accelerate infrastructure development and social welfare, and expand its foreign relations and collaborations, the South African official said.

For her part, Vice Secretary Tuyen said that Hanoi looks to explore and expand cooperation in tourism development, trade, clean energy, manufacturing, and high-quality agriculture.

She recommended that both sides continue to share information with businesses to explore and expand investment opportunities in South African localities.

During the working session, both sides expressed confidence that this visit will lay the groundwork for broadening and deepening cooperation in various fields between the two localities.

Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Tuyen, introduces Hanoi to South African guests. Photo: Hoai Thu/The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi delegation also visited and met with officials at the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa.

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Sy Cuong shared recent developments in the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and South Africa, and decentralized relations between Hanoi and South African localities.

He also listed out South Africa's strengths that Hanoi could leverage to foster more substantive and effective partnerships.

For her part, Hanoi Party Committee’s Vice Secretary Tuyen said that Ambassador Cuong and embassy officials will make further efforts to strengthen the relationships between Hanoi and South Africa, especially in delegation and people-to-people exchanging, tourism, economy, investment, trade, and education.

The meetings led by Vice Secretary Nguyen Thi Tuyen were part of Hanoi's 2024 foreign affairs agenda. From October 24 to November 1, 2024, the Hanoi delegation, led by Vice Secretary Tuyen, visited Egypt and South Africa to consolidate and expand friendship and cooperation between Hanoi and capitals worldwide, exchange experiences, and promote collaboration in tourism, investment promotion, trade, industry, and culture.