In a speech, Chairman of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association Pham Tat Dong praised the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the DPRK over the past 60 years.

The relationship made a historic breakthrough in 2007 during Party leader Nong Duc Manh’s official visit to the DPRK. Talks between Mr Manh and General Secretary Kim Jong Il succeed in bringing the friendship and cooperation to a higher plane.

Mr Dong expressed his belief that with support from the two countries’ leaders, relations will continue to grow and flourish in the future, fulfilling aspirations of the two peoples.

For his part, DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam, Ma Chol Su reviewed some historic landmarks in the relationship, which, he said, has expanded in various areas, military, diplomatic, economic, cultural, scientific and technological.

The Party, Government and people of the DPRK will do their best to strengthen friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, the Ambassador vowed.