Vuong Duy Bien, president of the Vietnam - DPRK Friendship Association for the term 2021-2026, delivers the opening speech. Photo: Tuan Viet.

The Vietnam-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Friendship Association will work on developing people-to-people exchanges, as part of efforts to deepen mutual understanding and friendship.

The Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association on Oct. 22 convened its National Congress for the term 2021-2026.

Vuong Duy Bien, former deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism was again elected to the position of president of the association in the new term.

Speaking at the opening of the Congress, Bien stressed that the people of the two countries had a tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance in the cause of building socialism and unifying the nation.

The friendly relations, founded by DPRK leader Kim Il-sung and Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh, have been steadily developed in the joint struggle for the socialist cause for the past 70 years.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950, the friendship between the two countries has been continuously developed, which is the determination of the leaders of the two Parties and States and the joint efforts of the two people, including the active contribution of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association and the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Association.

The congress is an opportunity for the association to summarize and evaluate the work in the past term and set out directions and tasks for the association's activities in the 2021-2026 period.

The executive committee of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association for the 2021-2026 term. Photo: Tuan Viet.

According to the report at the congress, in the last term, the association has received support, cooperation, attention, and respect from ministries, departments, branches, and localities, thanks to which the association has achieved positive results and has played an important role in consolidating, maintaining and promoting the two countries' relations.

The association has promoted its initiative in promoting friendly exchanges between the two sides, attracting partners to cooperate in organizing activities.

In particular, the association has worked closely with the counterpart association and enlisted the help of the DPRK’s Embassy in Vietnam.

In recognition of those contributions, the Government of the DPRK awarded the Order and the Medal of Friendship to a number of individuals and groups of the association's branches for their contributions in promoting the friendship between the two countries.

In the term of 2021-2026, the association plans to popularize the Vietnam - DPRK relation through various and diverse forms, research, and cultural exchange activities in culture, arts, sports, and tourism promotion.

At the same time, it has strengthened the information and experience exchange in activities, research on scientific subjects, and cooperation programs in various fields, and promoted the role of "bridge" in economic cooperation, science, and technology, cultural exchange, tourism between the people of the two countries Vietnam and DPRK.

The delegates discussed and approved the association's charter, and elected Vuong Duy Bien, former deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism as president of the new term.

Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of DPRK to Vietnam Ri Ho Jun. Photo: Tuan Viet

At the congress, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of DPRK Ri Ho Jun conveyed a congratulatory message from the DPRK - Vietnam Friendship Association congratulating the congress.

"Along with the Party and State cooperation exchanges, the Vietnam - DPRK Friendship Association has actively contributed to the exchange and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries through many forms. Through the people of the two countries, we have achieved great achievements in the cause of building the socialist fatherland," he said.

Ri Ho Jun expressed his wish that the Party, State, and Association would continue to support the just cause of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean people in the new term.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Presidium decided to award the insignia: “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” and the certificate of merit to individuals of the association with outstanding achievements.

VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga laudes diverse activities carried out by the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association. Photo: Tuan Viet

Speaking congratulating the congress, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga spoke highly of the association's activities, emphasizing: "Despite facing many difficulties, the association has persisted in operating with many diverse activities. In particular, they have closely and effectively cooperated with the embassy of DPRK in Hanoi to organize many meaningful events. Moreover, the association has been flexible, creative, mobilized resources to complete the task of being a bridge boosting collaboration between the two countries."

The third-class Labor Medal awarded by the President in 2015 on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the association has shown recognition of the association's important contributions to the cause of foreign relations between the people, Nga said.

Nga also expressed her belief that under the new leadership, the association would achieve new successes, making a worthy contribution to consolidating and developing bilateral ties between both countries.

Kids at Hanoi-based Viet Trieu Kindergarten wear traditional Korean Hanbok. Vietnam and the DPRK established diplomatic ties on Jan. 31, 1950. The DPRK is one of the first countries to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam. The historic event has played a role in expanding and developing the time-honored friendship in the context of the evolving global political situation.

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