The official delegation includes: Head of the Party Central Committee's Organization Commission Le Minh Hung; Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission Phan Dinh Trac; Chairman of the Central Inspection Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc; President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien; Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Xuan Thang; Minister of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang; Minister of Public Security, General Luong Tam Quang; Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh; Chief of the Party Central Office Pham Gia Tuc; Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang; To An So, Assistant to the General Secretary and Head of the General Secretary’s Office; and Vietnamese Ambassador to North Korea Le Ba Vinh.

vna_potal_tong_bi_thu_to_lam_den_binh_nhuong_bat_dau_tham_cap_nha_nuoc_toi_trieu_tien__8326322.jpg
Welcoming ceremony for General Secretary To Lam at Pyongyang International Airport. Photo: VNA

At the airport, the delegation was welcomed by Kim Song Nam, Alternate Politburo Member, State Councilor, and Head of the International Department of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, along with Deputy Foreign Minister Im Chon In.

A red carpet reception awaited the Vietnamese delegation, with two rows of North Korean honor guards lining both sides.

Kim Song Nam greeted General Secretary To Lam at the base of the aircraft stairs, while a North Korean girl presented him with flowers.

General Secretary To Lam walked along the red carpet, shaking hands with North Korean officials, Vietnamese embassy staff, and officials stationed in North Korea.

Children from North Korea waved flags and flowers in welcome.

vna_potal_tong_bi_thu_to_lam_den_binh_nhuong_bat_dau_tham_cap_nha_nuoc_toi_trieu_tien__8326353.jpg
A North Korean girl presents flowers to General Secretary To Lam. Photo: VNA

This visit holds exceptional significance, as it is General Secretary To Lam's first official visit to North Korea, and the first state visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to North Korea in 18 years.

It coincides with the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1950-2025) and the Vietnam - North Korea Friendship Year 2025.

The visit vividly illustrates the importance that both Parties and States place on the traditional friendship between Vietnam and North Korea.

North Korea was among the first nations in the world to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1950.

This traditional friendship was nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung, and has been upheld by generations of leaders from both nations.

During Vietnam's struggle for national liberation, North Korea stood side by side in support.

In return, Vietnam has consistently supported and remained in solidarity with North Korea through challenging times.

Tran Thuong