Grand Banquet Given in Honor of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un

President Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a grand banquet at the International Convention Centre on Friday in welcome of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Vietnam.

Present there were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae, O Su Yong, Ri Yong Ho, No Kwang Chol, Kim Yo Jong, Choe Son Hui and other accompanying cadres and attendants.

Invited to the banquet were DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong Gil and his embassy members.

Present there were senior officials of the Vietnamese party and government including Tran Quoc Vuong, Pham Minh Chinh and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Binh.

Kim Jong Un and Nguyen Phu Trong appeared in the banquet hall.

All the participants in the banquet enthusiastically welcomed the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, paying the highest tribute to them.

Nguyen Phu Trong made a congratulatory speech and then Kim Jong Un made a reply speech.

Warmly welcoming Kim Jong Un's visit to Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong said that the visit, the first of its kind in 55 years after President Kim Il Sung's visit to Vietnam in 1964, is the expression of the stand of the party and government of the DPRK valuing the traditional friendly relations with Vietnam.

Nguyen Phu Trong said that the traditional friendly ties between the two parties, the two states and the two peoples provided and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung with much care have steadily been carried forward and developed despite a number of challenges, expressing the belief that the visit paid by Kim Jong Un ahead of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries would make a great contribution to the interests of the two peoples and the global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

He said that though Vietnam and the DPRK are far away from each other, they are close in mind like real brothers, hoping that the traditional friendly relations with the DPRK would steadily develop.

Kim Jong Un expressed his heartfelt thanks to Nguyen Phu Trong for the sincerest hospitality with special attention although he was busy leading the overall work of the party and the state, saying that he is visiting Vietnam with the desire to invariably carry forward the historical tradition of DPRK-Vietnam friendship and develop the bilateral ties onto a higher stage as required by the new era in the kaleidoscopic world political situation.

He said that it is quite natural and right for him to visit Vietnam associated with the noble hearts of the leaders of the two countries and the common soul of the martyrs of the two countries who made the history of the DPRK-Vietnam friendship with their lives, affirming the will to further consolidate and develop the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties as required by the new era and make joint efforts in the sacred struggle to bring happiness and future to the peoples of the two countries.

Noting that his first visit to Vietnam and the significant meeting with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong convinced him of the vitality and good future of the friendly and cooperative relations between the parties and peoples of the two countries forged and consolidated by Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Kim Jong Un expressed the will to firmly defend the DPRK-Vietnam friendship, a precious legacy left by the preceding leaders of the two countries, and glorify it for all ages generation after generation.

A colorful art performance specially prepared by Vietnamese artistes to welcome Kim Jong Un's historic Vietnam visit was given at the banquet.

Put on the stage were male solo "Song of Loyalty" and female solo "Charms" sung by famous artistes of Vietnam who had taken part in the April Spring Friendship Art Festival and other numbers and Vietnamese traditional and graceful instrumental music and dances that revved up the welcoming atmosphere and left deep impressions on the participants.

Kim Jong Un together with Nguyen Phu Trong went up to the stage to express thanks for the performers' sincere and peculiar presentation and had a picture taken with them.

Kim Jong Un expressed thanks once again for the sincere and warm hospitality shown by the Vietnamese party and government before saying goodbye to Nguyen Phu Trong.