South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and held a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and sustainable development
President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 26 October 2025, where he was warmly received by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. The President attended the Opening Ceremony of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, underscoring South Africa’s growing engagement with Asia and its commitment to fostering partnerships that advance shared prosperity.
Image by South African High Commission, Singapore
President Ramaphosa’s participation in the ASEAN Summits followed South Africa’s recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 2023, a significant milestone in strengthening South-South cooperation. This partnership highlights South Africa’s strategic intent to promote inclusive and sustainable development through enhanced political dialogue, economic collaboration, and multilateral engagement with ASEAN Member States.
On the sidelines of the Summit, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The meeting served as an important opportunity to consolidate the strong and growing relations between South Africa and Singapore, focusing on expanding trade and investment flows, fostering innovation, and exploring new areas of collaboration.
Both leaders discussed the importance of deepening cooperation in skills development, information and communications technology (ICT), and renewable energy, while also addressing challenges related to market access for South African agricultural products. The discussions reflected the shared commitment of both nations to building a dynamic, mutually beneficial partnership rooted in innovation, sustainability, and economic resilience.
Through these engagements, South Africa reaffirmed its readiness to work closely with ASEAN and Singapore to strengthen connectivity between Africa and Southeast Asia—promoting a future of shared growth and inclusive progress.
Source: South African High Commission, Singapore
