General Secretary To Lam's state visit to the DPRK: A significant milestone in bilateral ties
WVR - Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu shared with the press about the state visit of General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as their attendance at the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.
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| Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu answers press questions. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Could you please elaborate on the significance and purpose of General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Democratic People's Republic of Korea and his attendance at the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea?
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation will make a state visit to North Korea and attend the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea from October 9-11, 2025.
This visit holds special significance as it marks General Secretary To Lam's first visit to the DPRK in his current role and the first state visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to the DPRK in 18 years. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1950 - 2025) and the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Year 2025, vividly demonstrating the importance both Parties and States place on the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the DPRK. This visit has three very important meanings and purposes:
Firstly, the visit reaffirms Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of valuing relations with traditional friends. Democratic People's Republic of Korea was one of the first countries in the world to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam (since 1950). This traditional friendship was nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kim Il Sung, and successive generations of leaders from both countries. During the struggle for national liberation, DPRK stood by and supported Vietnam. Vietnam has also consistently supported and stood by DPRK during difficult times.
Secondly, the visit is a crucial opportunity for the highest leaders of both Parties and countries to exchange and agree on strategic directions to inherit and promote the traditional friendship between the two Parties and countries, enhancing bilateral cooperation in the new phase in line with relevant international regulations and meeting the aspirations and desires of the people of both countries, especially in areas such as health, culture, sports, people-to-people exchanges, and agricultural cooperation.
Thirdly, as an active and responsible member of the international community, through this visit, Vietnam continues to demonstrate its consistent support for trends, efforts, and contributions to peace, stability, and development cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, in the region, and around the world.
With these meanings and importance, based on the 75-year foundation of traditional Vietnam-DPRK friendship, I am confident that the state visit of General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation will be a significant milestone, further enhancing the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation between the two Parties and countries, meeting the aspirations and desires of the people of both countries, while contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Could you assess the Vietnam-DPRK relationship in recent times and your expectations for this visit by the General Secretary?
In recent years, despite objective difficulties due to international and regional situations, the Vietnam-DPRK relationship has continued to develop steadily and robustly, achieving some commendable and prominent results, thanks to the long-standing traditional friendship and the persistent desire for cooperation between the two countries.
Firstly, both sides have maintained high-level and various levels of delegation exchanges, with a special highlight being the official friendship visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un in March 2019. In recent times, high-level leaders and various levels of both countries have maintained contact and exchanges through flexible means such as sending letters and messages during significant events of each country, thereby strengthening the friendship and political trust between the two sides.
The two sides have signed several bilateral cooperation agreements in areas such as culture, health, civil aviation transport, judicial assistance, investment encouragement and protection, and avoidance of double taxation; maintaining several dialogue and cooperation mechanisms such as the Deputy Ministerial-level Political Consultations, the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade, Scientific-Technical Cooperation, based on the needs of each country and international regulations.
Cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges are highlights in the friendly relations between the two countries, with diverse forms such as art and cultural exchange delegations, sports exchanges, participation in the annual Spring Art Festival, and the Pyongyang International Film Festival. People-to-people exchange activities are maintained and expanded, especially activities within the framework of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Year 2025, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, allowing the people of both countries, especially the younger generation, to gain a deeper understanding of the traditional, good friendship between the two Parties, States, and peoples.
With such positive cooperation results and the goodwill and efforts of both sides, we believe that this historic visit will yield new achievements for the relationship between the two countries. It is also a very important occasion for both sides to share genuinely, sincerely, and frankly about international and regional situations of mutual concern, making responsible and constructive contributions to promoting dialogue, maintaining peace, cooperation, and development on the Korean Peninsula, in the region, and around the world.
Thank you, Deputy Foreign Minister!
