Visiting North Korean leader boosts relations

HA NOI — Viet Nam wanted to further enhance bilateral co-operation, especially in economics, trade, investment and culture with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said yesterday.

The PM was speaking at a reception for visiting President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Kim Yong-nam, in Ha Noi yesterday.

The PM said he was pleased at the outcome of talks between President Kim Yong-nam and President Truong Tan Sang and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Dung said the Vietnamese Government would implement agreements reached between President Kim Yong-nam and Vietnamese leaders during his visit.

He added that the Vietnamese Government consistently supported a peaceful, stable and developed Korean Peninsula as well as dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful reunification between the two Koreas.

Dung also extended deep sympathy about human and property losses caused by the recent natural disasters in North Korea.

Kim Yong-nam said he was pleased to again visit Viet Nam. He said the achievements the country had made in socio-economic development and national construction were an encouragement to the DPRK in its national construction and development process.

He said his country wished Viet Nam would share its experience in socio-economic building and development.

Kim Yong-nam thanked Viet Nam for providing 5,000 tonnes of rice for the DPRK people.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Kim Yong-nam affirmed the DPRK's stance of supporting the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures.

The two sides agreed to continue to visits and exchanges between leaders at all levels and strengthen collaboration at regional and international forums. —VNS