President Tharman, PM Wong congratulate South African President Ramaphosa on re-election
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term on June 14.
PHOTO: AFP
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SINGAPORE – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have written congratulatory letters to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was recently sworn in for a second term, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 25.
In his letter dated June 19 – the day of the swearing-in ceremony – Mr Tharman recalled his meetings with Mr Ramaphosa in Singapore in 2016, and then in Pretoria, South Africa, a year later.
At the time, Mr Ramaphosa was South Africa’s deputy president, while Mr Tharman was deputy prime minister.
The Singapore President wrote that both countries have had a long friendship, marked by the celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2023, with an exchange of visits by the Republic’s then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
PM Wong said that Singapore and South Africa have a broad-based partnership. Besides regular high-level visits, there is cooperation in trade and investment, air connectivity, information and communications technology, and skills development.
He added that Singapore welcomed South Africa becoming an Asean Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 2023, and will continue to support the country when it assumes the presidency of the Group of 20 nations in 2025.
Both President Tharman and PM Wong said they look forward to working with Mr Ramaphosa to further enhance bilateral ties.
Mr Ramaphosa first became South Africa’s president in 2018. He was re-elected to a second term on June 14.
