Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un bids farewell to Vietnamese officials and people at Dong Dang station (Source: VNA)
Lang Son (VNA) - Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader KimJong-un boarded a train back to Pyongyang from Dong Dang station in thenorthern mountainous province of Lang Son on March 2 afternoon, concluding hisfive-day stay in Vietnam for the second DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit and the officialfriendship visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
This is the first official friendship visitto Vietnam made by Kim, Chairman of the Workers’ Party and the State AffairsCommission of the DPRK, since he became the country’s leader in 2011. He is alsothe first DPRK leader who has visited Vietnam after 55 years. Earlier, thefounder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung visited Vietnam in 1958 and 1964.
Bidding farewell to the DPRK Chairman atDong Dang station were Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the CommunistParty of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of its Commission for Educationand Information; Mai Tien Dung, member of the CPVCC and Minister-Chairman ofthe Government Office; Pham Thanh Ha, Vice Chairperson of the President Office;and Le Hoai Trung, member of the CPVCC and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,among others.
Within the framework of his visit, Kim heldtalks with General Secretary of the CPVCC and President Nguyen Phu Trong, andhad meetings with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National AssemblyChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
At the talks and meetings, both sidesagreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts; as well as to expand theexchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organisationchannels to increase mutual understanding in fields of common demand.
They will effectively maintain regulardialogue and cooperation mechanisms, including the deputy ministerial-levelpolitical consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic,Scientific-Technological Cooperation; explore the possibility ofmutually-beneficial collaboration in fields suitable to each side; expandcultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges; and hold activities tocelebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.
On regional and global issues, they pledgedto work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement andthe ASEAN Regional Forum, and to intensify the exchange of ideas on issuesregarding peace and stability maintenance in the region and the world.
On this occasion, Chairman Kim and theDPRK’s high-ranking delegation paid tribute to late Vietnamese President Ho ChiMinh at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs.
The delegation also visited severaleconomic models of Vietnam and the UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage HaLong Bay in northern province of Quang Ninh.-VNA
