Pyongyang, January 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to To Lam, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Luong Cong, president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on January 31.

The message said:

I extend warm congratulations on behalf of the Workers' Party of Korea, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the people of the DPRK to the Communist Party of Vietnam, the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The parties and the governments of the two countries set this year as a year of friendship. This conforms to the common aspiration and desire of the peoples of the two countries to develop the friendly and cooperative relations which were forged and consolidated in the joint struggle for socialism onto a new, higher stage.

I am pleased to declare this year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a year of friendship, and express my belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Vietnam with a long history and tradition will steadily develop and thus powerfully encourage and propel the cause of socialist construction in the two countries and the struggle of the world people aspiring after independence and justice.

I wish you good health and success in your responsible work to lead the party and the state and the friendly Vietnamese people well-being and prosperity. -0-