According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Ramaphosa will pay a state visit to Vietnam from October 23 to 24 at the invitation of President Luong Cuong.

Vietnam and South Africa established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1993. Prior to that, Vietnam maintained ties with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party, consistently supporting the South African people’s struggle against apartheid and their democratic reform efforts.

South Africa is Vietnam’s largest trade partner and export market in Africa. In 2024, bilateral trade reached nearly USD 1.8 billion.

As of July 2025, South Africa had 20 active investment projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of USD 880,000, ranking 109th out of 151 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Conversely, Vietnam has invested in four projects in South Africa, totaling USD 8.86 million, ranking 45th among 84 countries and territories where Vietnam has outbound investments.

The two nations maintain regular coordination and mutual support in international organizations and multilateral forums.

At the invitation of President Luong Cuong, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will also pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, from October 24 to 25.

Vietnam will host both the signing ceremony and a high-level conference on the UN Cybercrime Convention in Hanoi from October 25 to 26.

This significant international event marks a historic milestone in Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy and commemorates 47 years of Vietnam-UN partnership.

The agenda includes an opening session, a signing ceremony, a plenary session, four high-level discussions, four roundtable exchanges, a gala dinner, and a technology exhibition co-organized by the Vietnamese Government and the UN Secretariat.

President Luong Cuong and Secretary-General António Guterres are expected to deliver keynote speeches during the opening ceremony.

Tran Thuong