Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday held a reception in Hà Nội for South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI —  Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday said that Việt Nam always attaches importance to developing relations with South Africa during a reception in Hà Nội for South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula. 
PM Phúc said Việt Nam highly values South Africa’s role in regional and global issues as well as at international organisations such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, G20 and group of five major emerging national economies BRICS. 
He told his guest that Việt Nam has launched a project on developing ties with Middle East and African countries for the 2016 – 2025 period, in which South Africa is considered its leading partner in Africa. 
The PM spoke highly of the maintenance of Việt Nam-South Africa defence policy dialogue, which, he said, has contributing to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. 

Minister of Defence Ngô Xuân Lịch yesterday held a reception for South Africa’s Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Earlier the same day, Minister Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa -Nqakula met with Defence Minister  Ngô   Xuân  Lịch, where they agreed to maintain the defence policy dialogue which they consider as a strategic mechanism to promote the bilateral defence partnership and the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.
The two ministers reached high consensus on the overall assessment of the Việt Nam-South Africa defence relations in recent years, based on the agreement on defence ties signed in 2006. They agreed to increase all-level delegation exchanges to promote mutual trust and understanding. 
The two sides shared the view that defence industry, including technology transfer, is one of the potential fields for bilateral collaboration.
They agreed to expand research cooperation in telecommunications and create conditions for Vietnam’s military telecom group Viettel to make investment in South Africa.
Regarding personnel training, Việt Nam proposed that South Africa provide scholarships for Vietnamese students to study English, science-technology, computer, medical military, and logistics.
Minister Lịch affirmed that Việt Nam is willing to receive South African military students to learn Vietnamese and join defence policy research courses at the Defence National Academy.
The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation and share experience in joining the United Nations peacekeeping activities. South Africa is expected to share its know-how in building medical military and sapper forces in this field for Việt Nam.
The two ministers also mentioned coordination in anti-terrorism.
During her working visit to Việt Nam, the South African defence minister is scheduled to visit the General Department of Defence Industry and Viettel telecom group.—VNS