JOHANNESBURG, Oct 14 (The African Portal) – President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit three Asian countries from 22 to 28 October 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen South Africa’s trade and diplomatic relations.
The trip includes state visits to Indonesia and Vietnam, followed by his participation in the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit as a Guest of the Chair.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Monday that the visit demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to “deepening strategic ties” with South-East Asia.
“These engagements underscore the growing importance of South-East Asia in South Africa’s efforts to diversify and expand its export markets, and to strengthen inter-regional cooperation,” he said.
He added that the visit follows South Africa’s recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 2023 — “marking a significant milestone in advancing South-South cooperation and fostering inclusive, sustainable development through enhanced political, economic, and multilateral collaboration.”
According to the presidency, the visits form part of a broader drive to secure new markets for South African goods.
“This visit to South-East Asia, including several that precedes it and a few still to follow this year, are part of an ongoing intensification of opening new trade opportunities and expanding existing trade markets for South African goods and produce,” Magwenya said.
He added that President Ramaphosa is also “seeking more opportunities for skills development exchanges that will benefit the youth of South Africa,” stressing that skills training remains a consistent theme in the president’s engagements with world leaders and business executives.
Domestic engagements before departure
Before leaving for Asia, President Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October, respond to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Cape Town.
“The session will cover amongst other issues mechanisms to monitor the state of service delivery, progress in reviving local industries and strengthening the manufacturing sector, and an update on South Africa’s International Court of Justice case against the state of Israel,” Magwenya said.
Later that day, the president will deliver the keynote address at a dinner marking the Public Protector South Africa’s (PPSA) 30-year Anniversary International Conference.
On Friday, he is expected to address the 7th Social Justice Summit in Cape Town, which will focus on “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace: Pathways to Equality, Solidarity, Sustainability and Climate Resilience.”
This story was written with additional files from SAnews.gov.za
