Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with DPRK Chairman

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) welcomes Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un.

The top Vietnamese leader highlighted the visit by the DPRK leader as a significant new milestone in the history of the two nations’ relations, and provides a good chance for the leaders to update each other on each country’s situation and exchange notes on how to develop the bilateral ties, as well as on regional and international issues of common concern.

The host congratulated the DPRK people on their tremendous achievements they recorded gained in national construction and development. He voiced his belief that under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong-un, they will achieve greater successes.

He affirmed Vietnam's unwavering external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and the multilateralisation and persification of external ties, while assuming its role as a trustworthy friend and partner, and a responsible member of the international community.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people always treasure the traditional friendship with the DPRK and wish to further strengthen ties between the two Parties and countries for mutual benefit.

In reply, the DPRK leader said he hopes to share experience in national construction and socio-economic development with Vietnam. He underscored the DPRK Party and State’s consistent stance on valuing the traditional friendship with Vietnam, which was founded and nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kim Il-sung, and veteran leaders of the two Parties and countries.

The two leaders agreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts, and intensify the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisation channels to deepen mutual understanding in fields of common demand.

They will maintain regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, including the deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Scientific-Technological Cooperation, explore the possibility of mutually-beneficial collaboration in fields suitable to each side, expand cultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges, and hold activities marking the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.

Regarding regional and global issues, they pledged to work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the ASEAN Regional Forum, and to increase the exchange of views on issues regarding peace and stability maintenance in the region.

Trong hailed the efforts of the DPRK and the US at their freshly-ended second summit and wished that they would maintain dialogue to improve bilateral ties as a contribution to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

On the occasion, Kim invited Trong to visit the DRPK at an appropriate time.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the DPRK leader

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also met with the DPRK leader. Before the meeting, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the “Vietnam-DPRK relations” photo exhibition held by the Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic ties on January 31, 1950. Their traditional friendship, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Kim Il-sung, has seen constant development over the decades, as shown by with many exchange visits at the ministerial level and beyond.