President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has welcomed Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on a State Visit, emphasizing the start of a new phase in relations between the two countries. The visit, held in Pretoria, focused on enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and cooperation in renewable energy and global peace efforts. Ramaphosa highlighted the existing strong relationship based on shared values such as mutual respect and multilateralism. South Africa stands as Austria's largest trade partner in Africa, accounting for a significant portion of Austria's exports to the continent. The two countries aim to deepen investment and trade links in key sectors like the green economy, energy, manufacturing, and tourism. One area of particular interest is green hydrogen and clean energy, with both nations committing to low-carbon climate-resilient development pathways. The State Visit coincided with Austria launching its first green hydrogen production facility, aligning with South Africa's Green Hydrogen Economy Strategy. Ramaphosa expressed eagerness to expand cooperation with Austria in this area. Additionally, amidst global challenges like geopolitical instability and the climate emergency, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa's advocacy for a rules-based international order and urgent reform of global governance institutions. South Africa's presidency of the G20, focusing on 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', was also highlighted as a reflection of the country's dedication to advancing Africa's development agenda and supporting multilateralism. The visit concluded with a Business Forum to strengthen commercial ties between the two nations, bringing together business leaders, investors, and government representatives. The visit emphasized the commitment of both countries to deepen their partnership and explore avenues for collaboration in various sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energy and sustainable development.