Senior party officials of Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held talks in Hanoi on Dec. 9 to discuss measures to boost traditional friendship and cooperation between the two parties and countries.

Kim Yong Il, alternative Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of External Relations Committee of the Korea Workers Party, expressed his pleasure to witness the great achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people during their renewal process, national construction and defence.

He said he believed that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), will continue to gain more achievements.

Kim Yong Il was pleased with further development of the traditional friendship between the two parties, countries and peoples.

The Party and State of the DPRK attach importance to further developing traditional friendship with Vietnam , he affirmed.

Hoang Binh Quan, member of the CPV Central Committee and Head of the Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, congratulated the Korea Workers Party on its 65 th founding anniversary and successful organisation of the party national congress.

He spoke highly of activities the two sides jointly held during the year to mark the 60 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

He expressed his belief in new steps of development in the relations between the two external relations committees, contributing to promoting ties between the two parties, states and peoples of Vietnam and the DPRK.

Regarding the situation on the Korean peninsula, Hoang Binh Quan reaffirmed Vietnam ’s stance clearly stated in the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statement on Nov. 23 and the Vietnamese Foreign Minister’s statement on Nov. 26 as ASEAN Chair. He said he wished concerned parties would refrain from conflict, conduct dialogue and promote long-lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and throughout the region.

Kim Yong Il, who leads the Korea Workers Party delegation, is on a working visit to Vietnam from Dec. 8-10 at the invitation of the CPV Central Committee./.