Leaders of Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have exchanged greeting messages on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-DPRK diplomatic ties (January 31).

In their messages, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said over the past 65 years, the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been growing in all fields.

“We believe that with joint efforts of both sides, the ties between the two Parties and nations will continue to develop strongly and effectively, benefiting people of both countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and progress in the region and the world,” they stated.

Meanwhile, First Secretary of the DPRK Workers’ Party Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong-nam, Prime Minister Pak Pong-ju, and Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly Choe Thae-bok hailed the significant achievements that Vietnam has gained in national development process.

The DPRK leaders expressed their belief that the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries will further flourish, while wishing Vietnam new developments in the time ahead.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also swapped greetings with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong.

As part of activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-DPRK diplomatic ties, the DPRK Embassy in Hanoi hosted a banquet on January 30, which was attended by many senior officials of both sides.

Addressing the event, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen reviewed the 65-year history of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, affirming that Vietnam treasures the ties with the DPRK.

DPRK Ambassador Kim Chang-il pledged that the DPRK will continue exerting every effort to work with Vietnam in enhancing bilateral friendship and collaboration in all fields.

Vietnam, DPRK hold policy exchange

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Minh Khoi and his visiting counterpart from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Kil Song co-chaired the fourth annual policy exchange at deputy ministerial level in Hanoi on January 30.

The two sides expressed their delight with the development of the 65-year ties between Vietnam and the DPRK and discussed specific measures to implement the two countries’ agreements towards further tightening the bilateral friendship and collaboration in the coming time.

They also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the maintenance of peace and security in the East Sea and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The same day, the DPRK’s Deputy Minister paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Deputy Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Tran Dac Loi and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.

Ri Kil Song is making a visit to Vietnam from January 29 to February 1 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-DPRK diplomatic ties (1950 – 2015).

Vietnam treasures relations with DPRK

Vietnam’s Government and people are consistently working to strengthen the traditional friendship and cooperation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said.

During his reception for visiting DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Ri Kil Song in Hanoi on January 30, Deputy PM Hai suggested the two sides promote mutually-beneficial economic cooperation based on the market economy principle and each side’s capacity.

He said the Vietnamese Government is pleased by the significant achievements made by its DPRK counterpart in its national construction and development cause, expressing his belief that the DPRK will successfully implement its national goals under the leadership of the DPRK’s Labour Party led by the First Secretary Kim Jong-un.

Deputy PM Hai also proposed the two sides increase exchange of visits in the future to further promote friendship, mutual understanding, and trust between the two nations.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Ri Kil Song expressed his belief that with increasing links between the two nations in politics, economics, culture and people-to-people exchange, the bilateral friendship and cooperation will grow.

Ri Kil Song is leading a delegation on a working visit to Vietnam to attend the 4 th Vietnam-DPRK policy consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level.

VNA