The trip signals SA’s commitment to strengthening political and economic partnerships with one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
The tour includes state visits to Indonesia and Vietnam, followed by a working visit to Malaysia, where Ramaphosa will participate as Guest of the Chair at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
The visit begins in Jakarta on October 22 at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Ramaphosa will be received at the Merdeka Presidential Palace, where the two leaders will hold bilateral talks aimed at boosting cooperation in trade, agriculture, tourism and defence. Indonesia is currently SA’s third-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.
Relations between the two countries stretch back centuries, with Indonesia having been an outspoken opponent of apartheid and an early supporter of SA’s liberation movement. The state visit will also be accompanied by a South Africa-Indonesia Business Forum aimed at strengthening commercial ties and identifying new investment opportunities.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa will travel to Hanoi for a state visit to Vietnam, coinciding with the country’s 80th independence anniversary and a key period of political transition.
The two nations are set to elevate their relations to a Strategic Partnership, opening new avenues for cooperation in trade, investment, education and science. Vietnam’s fast-growing economy and expanding consumer market are seen as promising destinations for SA exporters seeking to diversify trade links.
Ramaphosa t will conclude his trip in Kuala Lumpur from October 25 to 28, attending the ASEAN and East Asia Summits as a Guest of the Chair. SA was granted Sectoral Dialogue Partner status with ASEAN in 2023, a move that deepened its engagement with the bloc.
–ChannelAfrica–
