Hanoi, Oct. 23 -- At the invitation of State President Luong Cuong, South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is set to pay a state visit to Vietnam on October 23-24. This marks the first visit by a South African head of state to Vietnam in nearly two decades, and represents a historic milestone that is expected to advance bilateral relations to a new phase of deeper and more substantive cooperation. Over three decades of strong traditional friendship Vietnam and South Africa officially established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1993, though joint work between the two countries dates back to the 1960s. The Communist Party of Vietnam and the African National Congress (ANC) forged solidarity, friendship and mutual support durin...