New impetus for Vietnam - North Korea relations

Early this morning (October 11), General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Hanoi , successfully concluding their State visit to North Korea and attending the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Taking place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Year 2025, the visit demonstrates the importance of the two Parties and States to the traditional friendship, while identifying directions for cooperation in the new period.

North Korea was one of the first countries in the world to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, 75 years ago, in 1950. General Secretary To Lam's State visit to North Korea was the first State visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to North Korea in 18 years. The leaders of the Party, State and people of North Korea welcomed the high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and General Secretary To Lam personally with great respect, sincerity and thoughtfulness, with many exceptions showing special respect for the high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and General Secretary To Lam. These are warm feelings that have been built over the past 75 years with a long history of traditional friendship between the people of Vietnam and North Korea, personally laid by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung.

In an exchange with General Secretary To Lam, General Secretary and State President Kim Jong Un shared that during the war, the Korean people considered it their own resistance and supported the Vietnamese people selflessly without calculation. And North Korea appreciates the valuable support that the Party, State and people of Vietnam gave North Korea during difficult times.

The meeting of the top leaders of the two countries' ruling parties is an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations over the past 75 years, and discuss new directions to bring bilateral relations into a new stage of development, while serving the development goals of each country. Vietnam and North Korea also have great similarities, which is the ideology of "taking the people as the center" and the same path to socialism.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and local cooperation to enhance experience sharing, consolidate political trust and mutual understanding; effectively maintain dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, and study the possibility of cooperation in appropriate fields.

“The two leaders agreed on many cooperation orientations in line with each country's strengths. In particular, promoting dialogue exchanges between Party, State, Government and National Assembly channels as well as promoting cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, culture, education, information and communication. The two leaders spent time sharing each country's stance on issues in the international region of mutual concern. The General Secretary also frankly shared Vietnam's viewpoints and stance as well as its consistent desire to effectively contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world, including issues on the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea,” said Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu.

The determination to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries was realized during the visit, with a series of documents signed, including the Cooperation Agreement between the two countries' Foreign Ministries; the Letter of Intent on defense cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense and the DPRK Ministry of Defense; and Agreements and Minutes of cooperation in the fields of health, medical science, and trade.

The relationship between Vietnam and the DPRK is a traditional friendship rooted in history. As affirmed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will forever remember the valuable support and assistance, both material and spiritual, of the Party, State and people of the fraternal DPRK in the past struggle for independence, freedom and national reunification, as well as in the current cause of renovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland. And Vietnam is always ready to support and accompany the DPRK in the most difficult times in the process of building and protecting the Fatherland. General Secretary and State President Kim Jong Un affirmed that General Secretary To Lam's visit brought joy to the Workers' Party of Korea on the occasion of its 80th anniversary.

The historic visit of General Secretary To Lam to North Korea is an opportunity to look back at the past and appreciate the great support of the Party, State and people of North Korea under the leadership of senior leaders such as President Kim Il Sung, General Secretary Kim Jong Il and today General Secretary and State Chairman Kim Jong Un for the Party, State and people of Vietnam, their sincere and wholehearted mutual assistance during the arduous revolutionary years. And that is the foundation for today, as General Secretary To Lam affirmed, Vietnam is ready to share with North Korea experiences in economic innovation, foreign economic relations; information on economic management policies, import-export and socio-economic development.

General Secretary To Lam said: “In the general exchange, I also suggested to the North Korean leaders that we continue to promote political trust, organize high-level delegations to visit each other, exchange experiences and promote economic relations, cultural and educational cooperation, national defense and security are also very key points for development. The mission of the Embassy, diplomatic agencies, and agencies next to the Embassy is to continue promoting this relationship in the coming time."

And this was also the message of General Secretary To Lam at a special and meaningful event, the inauguration of Uncle Ho's statue in the grounds of the Vietnamese embassy in the capital Pyongyang.

Witnessing the lives of people in the capital Pyongyang, General Secretary To Lam believes that with the motto of "taking the people as the root", "unity" and "self-reliance", North Korea will complete the tasks and goals set by the Workers' Party of Korea, opening a new era of comprehensive national revival. General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation also visited art facilities and educational centers, learning about good models in education, such as Kieng Sang Kindergarten, a famous art training center for young talents, contributing to improving the capacity and intelligence of children, especially in the field of art. And the fact that this school and the Viet Trieu Friendship Kindergarten in Hanoi are twinned has become a symbol of Vietnam - North Korea friendship.

During his state visit to North Korea, General Secretary To Lam attended the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. Since its founding, the Workers' Party of Korea has held eight congresses. The general policy affirms the persistence of the principle that the Workers' Party of Korea is the sole ruling and leading political party.

The presence of General Secretary To Lam at the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Workers' Party of Korea during this visit contributed to creating a strong driving force to enhance mutual understanding, consolidate political trust and promote the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries to a new height, towards completing the socialist development goals of each country; at the same time contributing to supporting the development of North Korea, setting an important milestone for development cooperation in the new era of both nations. Based on the awareness and commitment of the two countries' senior leaders and the agreements signed during the visit, in the coming time, Vietnam and North Korea will promote the implementation and concretization of the results achieved in all aspects to continue to firmly consolidate political trust; Maintain and effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms. Ministries, sectors and localities proactively implement cooperation in each field with specific roadmaps, steps and timelines in the fields of culture, tourism, sports, education, health, agriculture, information and communication... and in fields where both sides have strengths and needs.

During more than two working days with nearly 20 activities, General Secretary To Lam's state visit to North Korea is a concrete development of the Party and State's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, valuing relations with traditional friendly countries, demonstrating the spirit of Vietnam as a responsible member, a country on the path of innovation and successful innovation in the international community. The visit has contributed to creating new momentum for the traditional friendly relationship between Vietnam and North Korea.

Source: https://vtv.vn/xung-luc-moi-cho-quan-he-viet-nam-trieu-tien-10025101120212225.htm