The 79th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day was celebrated by this country’s embassy in Pretoria on Monday, with a toast between Vietnam’s ambassador in Pretoria, Hoang Sy Cuong and South Africa’s representative at the occasion, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong.
In his address to the attendees, including representatives from various embassies, Ambassador Cuong emphasised that September 2 holds great significance for the Vietnamese people. On this day, they remember when President Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
That occasion marked the beginning of a new era of independence, freedom, and self-determination. Cuong said this year’s celebration has another special significance, as, on this same day in 1969, their beloved President Ho Chi Minh died, exactly 24 years after he had given birth to the new Vietnam.
“The great leader’s testament, particularly his will, hopes and aspirations for a Vietnam of peace, unification and unity, prosperity have become our guide to action.”
The ambassador said 55 years since then, despite various difficulties and challenges, both from inside and outside, the country is proud of its achievements.
Vietnam today enjoys extensive diplomatic relations with 193 countries worldwide, including strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with 30 countries.
It is also an active member of over 70 regional and international organizations. From a backward economy, Vietnam has transformed into one of the world’s forty largest economies, ranked among the top twenty largest trading nations, and constituted a vital link in a network of 16 free trade agreements with 60 key economies in the region and beyond.
“The outstanding accomplishments after 79 years of our national construction can largely be attributed to the spirit of patriotism, the great national unity, the resolve towards self-reliance and resilience, and the burning aspiration for independence, freedom, and happiness of the Communist Party, the State, and people of Vietnam,” Cuong said.
He acknowledged the good relationship between the two countries, which not only started from the establishment of our diplomatic ties 31 years ago but stretched back since the 1950s.
“Vietnam and South Africa have been each other’s leading partners in our regions respectively. The bilateral trade turnover has been rather impressive, consistently reaching around 1.2 billion USD per year over the past five years, even during the Covid pandemic.”
The ambassador added that in the first seven months of this year, statistics indicate that the number has reached 1.1 billion USD, almost equal to the total number for last year.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and South Africa on Partnership for Cooperation and Development.
The ambassador said they are looking forward to the 6th meeting of the Vietnam - South Africa Partnership Forum - expected to take place in Pretoria before the end of this year.
Both sides will then discuss how to further unlock the enormous potentials for a stronger cooperation, including trade exchange, market access and more investment from each other.
In delivering South Africa’s congratulations to Vietnam, Morolong also acknowledged the close ties between the two countries. “Our soldiers - engaged in the war for peace - here in South Africa, were also inspired in part by the heroic sacrifices of the Vietnamese people. Thus, the fraternal ties between the peoples of our two countries, stretch back much further than our
formal diplomatic ties of 31 years.”
Morolong said South Africa aims to enhance its cooperation with Vietnam. “Both Vietnamese society and the South African society bear similar birthmarks of a long struggle against oppression and colonialism.”
In referring to recent state visits between the two countries, he said the visits emphasised the need to enhance our bilateral trade and work towards a more balanced trade relationship and included areas such as agricultural products, agro-processing, electric vehicles, and
batteries for electric cars.
A new bilateral framework aimed at increasing trade and investment from both sides, with
the goal of raising the two-way trade volume from 1.2 billion US Dollars to a target of two billion US Dollars, is also in progress.
He said the upcoming 6th South Africa – Vietnam Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation to be hosted by South Africa will continue to contribute to tangible deliverables being pursued between the two countries.
Pretoria News
zelda.venter@inl.co.za