Pyongyang, October 13 (KCNA) -- Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Quang Ba hosted a reception on Thursday to mark the 66th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Present there on invitation were Kim Yong Il, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, and Vice Director Pak Kun Gwang and other officials of the International Affairs Department of the WPK Central Committee.

Staff members of the Vietnamese embassy were on hand.

Le Quang Ba said in his speech that the friendship between the two parties, countries and peoples provided by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung has steadily developed on good terms under the deep concern of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

The successes achieved by the Vietnamese people are associated with the support rendered by the WPK and the Korean people, he said, adding:

The Vietnamese people, together with the friendly Korean people, will as ever make positive efforts for friendship and unity between the two countries.

Kim Yong Il said in his speech that the friendship between the two parties and countries is based on the comradeship forged by President Kim Il Sung and President Ho Chi Minh.

Leader Kim Jong Il's significant meeting with Nong Duc Manh in Pyongyang in October, 2007 was an epochal event that put the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and countries onto a higher stage, he added.

He wished the Vietnamese people more laudable success in the efforts to build a thriving Vietnam under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.