Present there on invitation were DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong and So Ho Won, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned.

Pham Viet Hung in his speech said that the Vietnamese people are always grateful for the party, government and people of the DPRK for sending material and moral support and assistance to the accomplishment of the just cause of the Vietnamese people.

The party, government and people of Vietnam are attaching importance to the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that these relations would continue developing in line with the common desire and interests under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries.

He expressed belief that the fraternal Korean people would register bigger successes in the struggle to implement the important tasks set forth by Marshal Kim Jong Un in his New Year address, improve the people's living standard, build a thriving socialist nation and achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country under the wise leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Ri Su Yong in his speech said that the traditional friendly and cooperative relation between the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and President Ho Chi Minh have developed along the road for carrying out the common cause for the past 65 years.

The bilateral relations developed on a higher stage with the Pyongyang meeting between leader Kim Jong Il and Comrade Nong Duc Manh as a momentum, he noted, adding:

It is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to steadily strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.