Vietnamese, North Korean top leaders highlight traditional friendship in official talks

Vietnam's Party chief To Lam held talks with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Lam is making a state visit to Pyongyang which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea (October 10, 1945-2025).

The visit is seen as a strong driving force to enhance mutual understanding and political trust, while elevating relations between the two Parties and countries toward realizing each nation’s socialist development goals.

The year 2025 also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the DPRK (1950-2025), established by late President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung and nurtured by successive generations of leaders on both sides.

Party chief Lam extended congratulations on the achievements of the DPRK and its Workers’ Party of Korea, saying he believed that under the principles of 'putting the people first,' 'great national unity' and 'self-reliance,' the DPRK would continue its accomplishments and open a new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation and prosperity.

DPRK’s top leader Kim expressed appreciation for the valuable assistance that the Party, State and people of Vietnam had extended to the DPRK during difficult periods of national construction and defence. During Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, the Korean people also gave wholehearted selfless support to the Vietnamese people.

He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by Party General Secretary To Lam, the Southeast Asian country will successfully realize its development goals and continue to achieve even greater success in socialist development in the future.

Both leaders agreed to further substantively promote the Vietnam–DPRK ties, which are expected to contribute to each country’s development goals, the happiness of their peoples, and peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

The two sides also agreed to enhance high-level and multi-level delegation exchanges and cooperation on all channels to build political trust, share experiences and deepen mutual understanding.

They further agreed to maintain dialogue and cooperation mechanisms effectively, explore potential areas for collaboration, and promote people-to-people exchanges to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Party chief To Lam proposed that both sides make full use of Party-to-Party cooperation channels, organize theoretical seminars to share experiences in Party building and national development and promote both bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation.

He also called for expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation in line with the development goals of both sides and with international regulations.

Vietnam stands ready to share its experiences with the DPRK on economic renovation, external economic engagement and socio-economic management and development, said Lam. He also suggested broadening cooperation in potential areas such as culture, sports, tourism, education, health and communications.

Sharing the same viewpoints, DPRK’s top leader Kim underscored that the DPRK wishes to work closely with Vietnam in Party building and national development and stands ready to advance cooperation across various suitable fields.

He proposed that the Party’s agencies, foreign ministries and relevant ministries, sectors and localities of both sides strengthen coordination to effectively implement the major directions agreed during this visit to enhance bilateral ties.

These measures are expected to usher the Vietnam-DPRK relations into a new stage of development that brings tangible benefits to both peoples.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation, mutual support and coordination at multilateral forums.

Party General Secretary Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for all concerned parties to promote dialogue and settle differences through peaceful means, jointly maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developmental environment on the Korean Peninsula.

He also called on the DPRK to support efforts to promote respect, ease tensions and resolve disputes in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).