Vietnam always attaches a great deal of importance to developing ties with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and is keen to enhance bilateral co-operation, especially in economics, trade, investment and culture.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated this while receiving the visiting President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK Kim Yong-nam in Hanoi today/ on Tuesday. The PM confirmed that the Vietnamese Government will put into action the agreements made between President Kim Yong-nam and Vietnamese leaders during his visit. On the Korean Peninsula issue, Vietnam’s government leader reiterated that Vietnam has consistently supported a peaceful, stable and developed Korean Peninsula, through dialgue, reconciliation, and peaceful reunification.

President Kim Yong-nam stressed that the DPRK has always coveted its relationship with Vietnam and wants to consolidate and strengthen its friendship and co-operation with the country. President Kim Yong-nam thanked Vietnam for providing 5,000 tonnes of rice for the DPRK people. Regarding the East Sea issue, President Kim said that the DPRK supports the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two sides agreed to continue to maintain visits and exchanges between leaders at all levels to look at ways of improving bilateral co-operation and strengthen collaboration at regional and international forums.