Top leaders from Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have pledged to boost traditional ties on the 60 th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations on January 31.

In their joint message to DPRK leaders, Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong expressed their strong confidence in further development of bilateral relations.

They said in furtherance of high-level commitments, relations between the two countries would gear to a broader dimension in the interest of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.

“Under the leadership of the Workers’ Party led by General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the DPRK people will gain greater achievements in the Socialist construction as well as in the cause of peace and national reunification to meet the late President Kim Il-sung’s last wishes,’ they wished.

Their views were echoed by the DPRK leaders in their joint message.

Workers’ Party General Secretary Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong Nam , Prime Minister Kim Yong Il, and Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman Choe The Bok said they believed that bilateral relations which have stood the test of time would further develop in future.

“May the Vietnamese people under the CPV leadership led by General Secretary Nong Duc Manh record greater achievements in their national construction to turn Vietnam into a prosperous country as the late President Ho Chi Minh wrote in his testament,” they emphasised.

Also on this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem exchanged messages of greetings with Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun of the DPRK./.