Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with his wife Le Thi Bich Tran and a delegation from Vietnam, held meetings with officials and employees of the Vietnamese Embassy, as well as Vietnamese community members in South Africa during their visit for the G20 Summit and other bilateral engagements.
Hoang Sy Cuong, the Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa, informed the Prime Minister that the Vietnamese community in South Africa is small and has been living in the country since before 1990.
He mentioned that the community's lives are generally stable, and even though there are no large businesses established by them, they still maintain strong ties to their homeland.
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He emphasized the need for increased focus on Africa, specifically South Africa, and for initiatives to explore new markets, enhance collaboration mechanisms, and improve business connections.
Le Hoai Nam, chairman of the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in South Africa, mentioned that despite being a small community, Vietnamese individuals in South Africa are proud of their cultural heritage, maintain a strong connection to their homeland, and are pleased with the progress in Viet Nam.
He also stated that they are actively involved in initiatives to maintain ties with their country of origin and contribute to enhancing the bond between Viet Nam and South Africa.
Community members expressed their satisfaction with the recent improvements in bilateral relations and put forward various suggestions. These included requests for better legal status, easier visa processes, and increased job opportunities for Vietnamese citizens in South Africa. They also brought up the need for access to online public services for those living abroad, the organization of community events, and the teaching of Vietnamese language to children both online and in person to maintain cultural heritage.
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Additionally, they emphasized the importance of continued support and focus on community issues in hard-to-reach areas. They also emphasized the importance of foreign intellectuals in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, and suggested improving collaboration in education and research.
Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the deep-rooted traditional friendship between Vietnam and South Africa, which was strengthened during Vietnam's struggle for independence and reunification and South Africa's fight against apartheid in pursuit of democracy, prosperity, and well-being for its citizens.
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The interactions between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the African National Congress began during the 1955 Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia. Currently, South Africa is the main trading ally of Viet Nam in Africa, but there is still room for growth in their economic relationship. It was highlighted that both countries need to strive for more meaningful and advantageous collaboration.