General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation have just successfully concluded their State visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and attended the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un.

Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to the DPRK holds particular significance as it marks the first of its kind by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam to the DPRK in 18 years. General Secretary To Lam’s visit was extremely successful, contributing to strengthening political trust and creating a strong momentum to promote the relationship between the two Parties and two countries to new heights.

Fostering the time-honoured friendship

During General Secretary To Lam’s State visit to the DPRK from October 9-11, the DPRK leaders and people gave the General Secretary and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation a warm and respectful welcome, clearly demonstrating the time-honoured friendship and extensive cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries.

General Secretary To Lam had a successful high-level meeting with General Secretary of the WPK and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un; attended the military parade and solemn reception to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea; paid floral tributes to the DPRK leaders, and visited a number of cultural and historical establishments. The General Secretary and the delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh Monument, visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the DPRK...

2025 was chosen as the “Viet Nam-DPRK Friendship Year” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 31, 1950 - 2025), coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea (October 10, 1945 - 2025). Marking a special milestone in the relationship between the two countries, General Secretary To Lam’s visit continued to affirm the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, proactiveness, active international integration in a comprehensive, deep and effective manner; strengthening relations with traditional friendly countries, including the DPRK; affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with the DPRK, wishes to strengthen cooperation between the two Parties and two countries, supports the development of the DPRK, and contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

At the talks in a sincere, friendly and open atmosphere, General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary of the WPK and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un reviewed and expressed their appreciation for the traditional friendship between the two Parties and two countries, which was personally built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, and which generations of leaders of the two countries have worked hard to cultivate, inherit and promote. At the same time, they recalled the tradition of mutual support and assistance between the two countries during the arduous revolutionary years.

Highlighting the outstanding achievements of the DPRK over the past 80 years under the leadership of the WPK, Party General Secretary To Lam expressed his belief that, with the motto of “taking the people as the root”, “united mind” and “self-reliance”, the DPRK would successfully accomplish the tasks and goals set by the WPK, ushering in a new era of comprehensive national prosperity and rejuvenation.

President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un emphasised that during Viet Nam’s resistance war against foreign invaders, the DPRK people regarded it as their own struggle and provided sincere and selfless support to the Vietnamese people. He also affirmed that the DPRK gratefully remembers the valuable assistance extended by the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam during its national building and defence process.

Congratulating Viet Nam on its great achievements over the past 80 years, General Secretary of the WPK and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un expressed his firm belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, headed by General Secretary To Lam, Viet Nam will successfully realise its development goals, organise successfully the 14th National Party Congress, and continue to record even greater achievements in building a prosperous socialist country.

The two leaders agreed on strategic orientations to inherit and further promote the traditional friendship between the two Parties and countries, and to advance Viet Nam–DPRK relations to a new, more practical and effective stage of development. They stated that the goal is to contribute to each country’s development objectives, meet the aspirations of their peoples, and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.

Within the framework of the State visit by Party General Secretary To Lam and high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the DPRK and their attendance at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the WPK, a signing ceremony was held for bilateral cooperation documents between Viet Nam and the DPRK.

Accordingly, the signed cooperation documents include an Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK; a Letter of Intent between the Ministry of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK on defence cooperation; an Agreement on Cooperation between the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA); a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in health and medical science between the Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Public Health of the DPRK; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Chamber of Commerce of the DPRK.

Within the framework of the visit, General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation attended the inauguration ceremony for the statue of President Ho Chi Minh at the premises of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In 1957, President Ho Chi Minh paid an official friendship visit to the DPRK. During this visit, he affirmed that although Viet Nam and the DPRK are geographically distant, their hearts are close, bound together by a profound sense of brotherhood.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Kyongsang Kindergarten and the classroom named after President Ho Chi Minh. Established in 1954, Kyongsang Kindergarten initially functioned as a regular educational institution but was later converted, in the late 1970s, into a specialised music training school for talented children. 

Kyongsang Kindergarten maintains a close relationship with the Viet Nam–DPRK Friendship Kindergarten, a meaningful gift from the DPRK Government to the people of Viet Nam on March 8, 1978.

During his visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in the DPRK, the General Secretary shared words of encouragement, commending and highly appreciating the collective efforts of the Vietnamese Embassy’s staff. He praised their solidarity, dedication, and resilience in overcoming challenges to successfully fulfil the diplomatic missions entrusted by the Party and the State, thereby contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries with many new milestones.

The General Secretary urged all officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the DPRK to continue promoting their role as a bridge between the two nations, fostering cooperation in areas of mutual interest in accordance with each country’s laws, regulations, and international principles, for the sake of regional peace and development. He also encouraged greater efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges and other forms of cooperation that serve the needs and aspirations of both sides.

Strengthening ties with international partners

On the occasion of attending the ceremony marking the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK, General Secretary To Lam met Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

In an atmosphere of friendship, sincerity, trust and openness, both sides expressed delight at the positive momentum in relations between the two Parties and the two countries in recent times. They noted the growing political trust, frequent high-level exchanges, strengthened security and defence cooperation, robust growth in economic, trade, investment and tourism ties, vigorous progress in development connectivity, particularly in railway linkage, dynamic local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and closer coordination in multilateral fora.

General Secretary To Lam expressed his wish for Viet Nam and China to continue deepening and substantiating their bilateral relations. He urged both sides to further enhance political trust to serve as a foundation and driver for comprehensive cooperation, effectively organise the 17th Meeting of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, and promote the pivotal roles of diplomacy, national defence and public security in advancing ties.

The General Secretary called for joint efforts to create real breakthroughs and tangible progress in cooperation, turning commitments into results and potential into reality. He particularly highlighted the need to expand China’s import of Vietnamese goods, agricultural and aquatic products; increase electricity exports to Viet Nam; prioritise the early completion of the three standard-gauge railway lines connecting the two countries; and promote high-quality investment cooperation with technology transfer and human resource training. He also encouraged making science and technology collaboration a new highlight of bilateral ties.

To foster mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples, General Secretary To Lam proposed that both sides support social and mass organisations in enhancing exchanges, actively promote the Viet Nam–China friendship and each country’s development achievements, and strengthen cooperation in education—especially in training high-quality human resources—and tourism. He also called for the proper handling of maritime issues in accordance with the shared understanding of top leaders and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Chinese Premier Li Qiang highly appreciated General Secretary To Lam’s proposals on orientations and measures to advance bilateral relations. He affirmed that the Chinese Party and State attach great importance to the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the Community of Shared Future with Viet Nam, regarding it as a priority direction in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy. Premier Li stressed that both sides should accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements and shared understandings, strengthen political trust, improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation across sectors, consolidate public support, and better manage maritime differences—thereby advancing bilateral relations in a more substantive, profound and sustainable manner.

At a meeting between Party General Secretary To Lam and Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, both sides affirmed that the Parties, States, and peoples attach great importance to the traditional friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation.

Party General Secretary To Lam emphasised that the Communist Party of Viet Nam always values its cooperation with the United Russia Party, considering it the foundation for strengthening political trust and promoting bilateral cooperation. He reiterated that Viet Nam consistently regards Russia as an important strategic partner and wishes to work closely with Russia to expand cooperation in key areas, including politics, security and defence, energy — especially oil and gas, science and technology, education and training, and culture and the humanities. The two sides agreed to further promote the Party-to-Party cooperation channel between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the United Russia Party.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction that, following recent high-level meetings, the two countries are actively implementing agreements and cooperation commitments across multiple sectors. They agreed to continue strengthening political trust, enhancing delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, and effectively implementing the Master Plan on Viet Nam–Russia Comprehensive Cooperation until 2030, along with previously reached agreements. The two sides also discussed measures to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation, remove barriers, and open markets further for each other’s export products. They pledged to facilitate stronger business cooperation in areas such as oil and gas, energy, science, and technology; enhance security and defence collaboration; expand local-to-local partnerships and transportation links; and promote more effective cooperation in education and training, healthcare, culture, sports, and tourism. Both sides also agreed to create favourable conditions for people-to-people exchanges and to promote joint projects in energy, oil, and gas, nuclear power, and labour cooperation, including in agriculture.