Date: 07/10/2010
Source: The Presidency
Title: SA: Motlanthe: Address by the Deputy President of South Africa, responding to toast remarks at the official dinner, Hanoi

Your Excellency, it is a great honour for me and my delegation to be your guests here in the Presidential Palace tonight.

I am particularly honoured to be able to convey to you, in person, the warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations from President Zuma and the people of South Africa on the 1000 Year Anniversary of your capital, Than-Long Hanoi. Indeed, you can look back with pride on the long and illustrious history of the city.

Excellency, this is indeed an exceptional year when Vietnam does not just have one birthday, but many birthdays to celebrate.

On 2 September this year, we shared with you the sense of pride on your statehood as you marked the occasion 65 years ago that Chairman Ho Chi solemnly announced to the world the birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

We were very happy when, in July 2010, the UNESCO Heritage Committee declared the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long Hanoi a world cultural heritage site.

I also wish to mention the birthday of someone who has a very special place in South African history and especially in history of the African National Congress. Allow me, Excellency to make mention of the birthday of your iconic General Giap who turned 100 years old in August 2010.

Excellency,
We have been following the remarkable growth and economic development that the world has seen in Vietnam over the past 20 years.

We have noted how you have halved the poverty and how your country is today one of the fastest growing economies in the world. We congratulate you on this achievement.

Excellency, 2010 has also been a very special year for South Africa. As you know, we hosted the FIFA World Cup in June and July.

It was a time of great joy and pride for us and we are happy to know that our Vietnamese friends shared the moment with us.

We are aware that millions of viewers in Vietnam watched the football spectacle on the digital channel VTC. We trust that they got a glimpse of what South Africa has to offer and that we will be able to welcome many visitors from your country in time to come.

We had an opportunity earlier today to have substantive discussions on bilateral cooperation and we look forward to receiving a delegation from Vietnam in South Africa during 2011 for the 2nd Meeting of the Partnership Forum where our Governments will be able to continue further interaction.

I would like to reaffirm, to the Government and the people of Vietnam, South Africa's enduring friendship and commitment to Vietnam.

On behalf of the President, the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa, please join me in a toast to the health and prosperity of President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Government and to the continued friendship between the people of South Africa and the people of Vietnam.

Thank you