Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien made the statement a working session with Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Vietnam in Hanoi on Saturday.

Minister Dien spoke highly of South Africa's coal mining and export capacity as it produced nearly 260 million tons of coal in 2020, 30% of which was for export. He asked the South African Ambassador to help Vietnam connect with South African partners in coal and mineral cooperation. The Minister said he hopes the two sides will soon agree on the schedule of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on mineral cooperation.

Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro affirmed that South Africa always attaches importance to and wishes to further promote its cooperation with Vietnam in trade, energy and minerals. He urged the two sides to work closely to settle coal supply between the two countries. He also suggested Vietnam help South Africa's key products access the Vietnamese market.