South African (SA) President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded his state visit to Vietnam, where the two nations agreed to elevate relations to a Strategic Partnership.

The move marks a major step in deepening South-South cooperation, with the two countries pledging closer collaboration in trade, digital innovation, and global governance.

Ramaphosa now heads to Malaysia, where he will attend the  Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit alongside other global leaders.

He received a warm welcome at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi at the start of his two-day state visit aimed at strengthening political and economic ties between SA and Vietnam.

Talks between the two nations covered trade, defence, agriculture, and technology.

Ramaphosa used the platform to underscore the shared vision for cooperation between Africa and Southeast Asia.