HCMC – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to advance bilateral relations to a new stage of practical and effective cooperation during their talks in Pyongyang today, October 9.
The meeting took place after an official welcome ceremony at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK). The visit coincides with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the WPK and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and North Korea.
Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the WPK and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), extended a warm welcome to To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, describing the visit as an event of special significance that would help strengthen mutual understanding, political trust, and socialist development in both nations.
Expressing delight at visiting North Korea in his new capacity, To Lam congratulated the WPK and the North Korean people on their remarkable achievements over the past eight decades. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to share its experience in economic reform, foreign economic relations, and socioeconomic management with North Korea.
The two leaders reviewed the traditional friendship between their parties and countries, built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, and nurtured by successive generations of leaders. They agreed to further consolidate this relationship, promoting cooperation in line with each nation’s development goals and for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges at high and working levels through Party, State, Government, and parliamentary channels, as well as local cooperation. They also pledged to boost people-to-people exchanges, maintain dialogue mechanisms, and explore cooperation opportunities in mutually beneficial fields.
To Lam proposed that the two parties hold joint theoretical seminars on Party building and national development, and strengthen inter-parliamentary and economic cooperation in line with international regulations. He suggested expanding collaboration in culture, sports, tourism, education, healthcare, and media, including co-producing broadcasting programs that introduce each country’s culture and people.
Kim Jong Un endorsed these proposals, emphasizing North Korea’s desire to deepen cooperation with Vietnam in Party building and national development. He called on relevant ministries and localities of both countries to coordinate concrete measures to realize the outcomes of this visit.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues and agreed to support each other at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the ASEAN Regional Forum. To Lam reiterated Vietnam’s support for dialogue and peaceful settlement of differences to maintain stability and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, while encouraging respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Vietnam and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1950. The two countries have signed multiple cooperation agreements in areas such as culture, healthcare, civil aviation, judicial assistance, investment protection, and double taxation avoidance.
