At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Labor Party of DPRK, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of DPRK Kim Jong-un has arrived in Hanoi, making an official friendship visit to Vietnam....

At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Labor Party of DPRK, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of DPRK Kim Jong-un has arrived in Hanoi, making an official friendship visit to Vietnam....

After 60 years since the first visit to Vietnam by the President Kim Il Sung in 1958 and on the occasion that the two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020, Vietnam's official visit of the President Kim Jong-un has marked a milestone in the relationship between the two parties and the two countries. The visit showed that Vietnam always appreciates the efforts of strengthening traditional relations with DPRK.

Friendship is constantly being strengthened

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and DPRK were established on January 31, 1950, led by the leaders of two nations, President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Nhat Thanh. For nearly 70 years, the traditional relations between two ethnic groups of Vietnam and DPRK have been constantly strengthened and developed.

Since the leaders of the two nations made efforts to lay the foundation, the friendly relationship between the two countries has been well maintained through visits of leaders of the two countries; over 50 high-level delegations have been exchanged (from ministerial level upwards).

After 7 years of establishing diplomatic relations, from August 8 to July 12, 1957, President Ho Chi Minh first visited Korea officially. The ceremony to welcome the leader of Vietnamese revolution and the high-ranking delegation of the Party and State was solemnly organized by the host country. A rally of the people of Pyongyang took place with the participation of President Ho Chi Minh and leader Kim Il Sung who was then the Prime Minister of DPRK.

A year later, Prime Minister Kim Nhat Thanh came to Hanoi, paid a visit to Vietnam from November 28 to December 2, 1958. Many Vietnamese people flocked to the street, waved flags and applauded him. During this six-day visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Kim Nhat Thanh visited Nam Dinh Textile Factory, Vietnam People's Army Museum, Quan La Agricultural Cooperative, Xuan La Commune, Tu Liem District of Hanoi city. This cooperative was later named Vietnam- DRPK Friendship cooperative. A memorable point in the visit of DPRK’s leader to Vietnam in 1958 was Korea - Vietnam Joint Declaration and that the Trade Agreement between Vietnam and DPRK was signed. In 1964, DPRK’s leader Kim Nhat Thanh returned to visit Vietnam.

Since the late 2000s, diplomatic relations between Vietnam and DPRK have been significantly enhanced, through visits to DPRK by General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in 2007, Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh in 2008, the visit to Vietnam by the Chairman of the Supreme People's Standing Committee Kim Yong Nam in 2001 and the Prime Minister Kim Yong Il in 2007.

One of the spotlights in the relationship between two countries is Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Kindergarten in Hanoi and Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Kyongsang Kindergarten in Pyongyang. The school in Hanoi is funded by DPRK with basic construction and all equipment, school supplies, and the piano.

Vietnam has also provided 100 tons of rice to DPRK (in 1995), 13,000 tons of rice (in 1997). In the period of 2000-2012, Vietnam provided 22,700 tons of rice, 5 tons of raw rubber, USD 50,000 (emergency aid); $ 70,000 (in 2016 for flood aid).

Shortly after arriving in Hanoi for the 2nd US-DPRK Summit, in the afternoon of February 26, President Kim Jong-un visited the Embassy of DPRK in Hanoi. Talking with the staff here, President Kim Jong-un stressed that the Embassy should actively contribute to strengthening the cooperation and friendship relations between two Parties and two States.

Enhance exchange and cooperation on many areas

In recent years, two countries exchanged policies at the level of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam - Korea; Inter-governmental Committee on Vietnam-Korea Economic and Scientific Cooperation. Many important agreements were signed such as: Cultural Cooperation Agreement; Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement; Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and DPRK; Trade and Maritime Agreement; Mutual Medical Agreement; Agreement on cooperation in civil air transport. In 2002, two sides signed a sea transport agreement; Trade agreement; Agreement on mutual legal assistance; Investment encouragement and protection agreement, Agreement to avoid double taxation.

In November 2018, during a visit to Vietnam, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong Ho emphasized that the consistent stance of the Party and Government of GPRK is to respect and strengthen traditional friendly relations with Vietnam; coordinate to consider appropriate measures to develop Vietnam- Korea relations in accordance with the new situation. During the visit, two sides agreed to closely coordinate in international and regional forums such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, and ARF Regional Forum in order to boost exchanges on mutual concerns.

Lately, from February 12 to February 14, 2019, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit to DPRK, affirming the basis of consistently implementing the policy of independence, autonomy, peace, cooperation and development; diversification and multilateralism in foreign relations, being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. The Party, the Government and the Vietnamese people respect and wish to maintain and develop traditional friendly relations with the Party of DPRK, the Government and Vietnamese people.

In parallel with the friendly relations between two countries, economic cooperation between Vietnam and DPRK has always been promoted which is still modest though. Two-way trade turnover in 2014 reached USD 8 million; in 2015 reached USD 11.6 million. In 2016, Vietnam’s export value to Korea reached USD 2.99 million; 7,322 million USD in 2017 (mostly food and confectionery). The exported value in the first 9 months of 2018 was USD 497,000.

The official visit to Vietnam this time by President Kim Jong-un aims to promote cooperation between two parties and two countries in the fields in accordance with the interests, legal provisions and international commitments of each country, contributing to maintaining regional peace, cooperation and development.

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn