Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Sinh Hung said this during talks with South African NA Speaker Max Vuyisile Sisulu in Hanoi on November 17.

NA Chairman Hung said that over the past years, the Vietnamese NA has promoted regular diplomatic activities with other parliaments and actively participated in multilateral forums, and regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

In 2010, Vietnam successfully fulfilled its role as ASEAN Chair and its NA also performed well in its post as AIPA Chair.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to developing its time-honoured friendship and cooperation with South Africa. Vietnam and South Africa need to build a coordinating mechanism for signing cooperation agreements between the two legislative bodies, and enhance bilateral activities at international forums, Mr Hung said.

NA Chairman Hung asked the two legislative bodies to promote cooperation programs and expand cross-cultural exchanges, enabling the counties to become reliable partners.

South Africa helps Vietnam expand relations with African nations, while Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for South Africa to boost relations with ASEAN nations, Mr Hung said

For his part, South African NA Speaker Sisulu said his country and Vietnam share similarities, especially in the long struggle for national independence, while highlighting the tradition of friendly, close relations among generations of leaders from both countries over the past years.

Mr Sisulu invited Vietnam to attend the 100^th anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC) Party next year, during which South Africa will also launch a series of activities to respond to the international conference on global climate change.

Speaker Sisulu underlined the need for both sides to accelerate the establishment of a South Africa-Vietnam parliamentary friendship association, with a view to sharing experiences and increasing cooperation in national defence and security, diplomacy, budget management, trade, and clean energy technology.

He also proposed establishing negotiating groups to enhance the signing of cooperation agreements, saying that his country will support Vietnamese investors doing business in South Africa.

During talks, the two NA leaders compared notes on the socio-economic, political and diplomatic situations in their respective countries and agreed to do their best to strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual trust between the two countries at bilateral and international forums.

On the occasion, Speaker Sisulu invited Mr Hung and a Vietnamese NA delegation to visit South Africa. His invitation was accepted with great pleasure and the trip will be arranged by relevant agencies in the future.

*** At a reception for South African NA Speaker Sisulu on the same day, Deputy PM Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said his visit will contribute to further strengthening cooperative relations between Vietnam and South Africa, adding that Vietnam and South Africa need to support each other at regional and international forums.

Deputy PM Phuc welcomed South African businesses seeking cooperation opportunities and running long-term investment in Vietnam, thus helping boost bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Mr Sisulu praised Vietnam’s policies to stabilize the macroeconomy and curb inflation, expressing his hope that both countries will expand cooperation in economics, trade and investment for their mutual benefit.