(VNA)- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai promised the  most favourable conditions to South African businesses before 257 local industrial executives at a business forum in Pretoria on Wednesday. PM Khai is currently on a four day visit which began on Monday.

Also present at the event was the Minister of the Presidential Palace of South Africa.

The PM said the Vietnamese Government was working for a solid, long-term and transparent legal system and endeavouring to speed up its renewal process with a focus on transparent and firm administration in the interest of both the ordinary people and businesses.

Great efforts have been made to improve the operation of State-owned enterprises while boosting private businesses, the family economy, and foreign investments, the Government leader said.

In order to make the country appealing to foreign investors, PM Khai unveiled Viet Nam's intensive investment plan for developing infrastructure, especially in the telecommunication and information industries.

He also pledged to comply with its commitments to the international community, especially in a bid to fully join the World Trade Organisation.

Viet Nam has always respected relations with African countries, of which South Africa played an important role, the Government leader concluded. He, in return, received the host country's strong support for Viet Nam's bid for WTO membership.

Relations between Viet Nam and South Africa have developed well in the recent past, with Viet Nam being South Africa's fifth largest trade partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said South African officials.

The two countries are to set up a joint trade committee to promote their commercial potential.

The participants at the forum shared a view that the two countries may boost cooperation in transport, infrastructural construction, steel production, mechanical engineering and chemistry, in addition to garments and footwear, of which South Africa has been Viet Nam's traditional importer.