Pyongyang, April 8 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to To Lam, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on April 8.

The message said:

I extend warm congratulations and comradely greetings to you on your election as president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the First Session of the 16th National Assembly.

Your assumption of the heavy responsibility as president of the country is an expression of deep trust and expectation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and all the Vietnamese people about you who have successfully guided the work for national development and prosperity and promotion of the people's wellbeing.

Taking this opportunity, I express belief that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between our two parties and two countries would grow stronger in conformity with the aspirations and desires of the two peoples on the basis of the spirit of the agreement reached at our meeting in Pyongyang last October.

I wish you good health and success in your responsible work for leading the party and the state. -0-