Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong hosted an official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on March 1 for Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un.

Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic ties in 1950. Their traditional friendship, nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Kim Il-sung, has been continuously consolidated and grown over the decades. Welcoming Chairman Kim, Party and State leader Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the visit is an important new milestone in the history of the two countries’ relations. The Vietnamese Party, State and people always treasure the traditional friendship with the DPRK and want to further intensify ties between the two Parties and countries for the benefit of the two peoples, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, he stated. Kim, for his part, hoped to share experience in national construction and socio-economic development with Vietnam. Both sides agreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts; as well as to expand the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisation channels to increase mutual understanding in fields of common demand. Later the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un. Prime Minister Phuc affirmed Vietnam’s party, state and people always treasure the traditional friendship with the DPRK, adding that the Vietnamese government and people are willing to bolster win-win cooperation between the two countries’ peoples in line with international laws and commitments. The government leader lauded efforts by the DPRK and the US during the recent summit. He also voiced his hope that the involving parties would continue its dialogues towards a peaceful resolution. Chairman Kim expressed his strong impression on socio-economic achievements by Vietnam in recent time and spoke highly of Vietnam’s stance in the world arena. He also said that the DPRK Government expects to deepen the relationship between the two countries through delegation exchanges and cooperation in fields within the two sides’ potentials and demands. Before the meeting, PM Phuc and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un visited the “Vietnam-DPRK relations” photo exhibition held by the Vietnam News Agency. The same day, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un. Chairwoman Ngan suggested more delegation exchanges between National Assembly of Vietnam and Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.

She also voiced her hope that meaningful activities will be held between the two countries in 2020, the 70^th anniversary of Vietnam – DPRK diplomatic 𝄹relations.

For his part, Chairman Kim iterated the DPRK party and state’s determination to continue nurturing the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK, which was built up by Vietnam’s late President Ho Chi Minh and the DPRK late Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung. He also thanked Vietnam for careful preparation and organization of the second DPRK-USA summit.-VNA