South Africa’s friendship with Vietnam has moved up a gear, with President Cyril Ramaphosa using a landmark visit to Hanoi to champion a new pillar of cooperation between the two nations: parliament-to-parliament diplomacy.
Paying a courtesy call on the Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly, Trần Thanh Mẫn, President Ramaphosa said it was vital that relations between countries reach beyond the executive level and extend to their legislatures.
“South Africa values the important role that parliamentary democracy plays in strengthening bilateral relations. It is important that relations between two countries are not just limited to government level, but also at a parliamentary level,” the President said.
Reciprocal Visits on the 2026 Calendar
The engagement builds on productive exchanges earlier this year between the Deputy Chairperson of Vietnam’s National Assembly and South Africa’s presiding officers, including the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
“These exchanges have laid a strong foundation for deeper institutional cooperation between our parliaments. I am pleased that we have agreed to reciprocal visits by office bearers in 2026, which will further enhance dialogue, oversight, collaboration and the sharing of legislative processes,” President Ramaphosa said.
He also commended the 2024 engagement between a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza, saying such interactions reflect the enduring relationship and shared values between the two countries.
Turning a Strategic Partnership Into Results
With South Africa and Vietnam having elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, the President said both legislatures will now play a crucial role in making sure agreements in areas such as trade, culture and governance are translated into action.
“Our legislatures will play a critical role in ensuring that agreements between our governments are implemented and that they deliver tangible benefits for our peoples,” he added.
Inter-parliamentary cooperation, he noted, helps deepen understanding, promote accountability and ensure that what is signed on paper becomes real progress for citizens in both countries.
Moments of Warmth in Hanoi
The visit carried moments of genuine warmth alongside the formal diplomacy. Following the courtesy call, President Ramaphosa was given a tour of the National Assembly Museum. Earlier, he paid a courtesy call to the family home of the late General Võ Nguyên Giáp, one of Vietnam’s most revered military leaders, where the family guided him through the historic home. The President observed local traditions, paid his respects at a sacred site and signed the family book with a heartfelt message of appreciation.
For South Africa, the deepening bond with one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies opens doors for trade, cultural exchange and shared learning between two nations whose histories are both marked by hard-won freedom – and whose parliaments are now set to write the next chapter together.
The visit was reported by SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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