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A North Korean delegation led by Prime Minister Kim Yong-il arrived in Hanoi last Friday to learn about the booming Southest Asian nation's reform policy. Kim met with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday and signed agreements including a memorandum on cooperation in agricultural science and technology.
The North Korean delegation the same day visited the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, where they learned about the ministry's policy and had a long discussion on economic reform and openness and the direction of economic development. A diplomatic source said, "The North Korean delegation will learn about Vitnam's 'Doi Moi' economic policies until Tuesday, while visiting Ha Long Bay, Ha Tu Coal plans, Hipong Harbor, a logistics center, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic capital. Since launching the "Doi Moi" policy, the Vietnamese government has been pushing for reform in all sectors, giving top priority to economic reform.
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North Korean Prime Minister Kim Yong-il, left, shakes hands with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, right, at Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday. Kim arrived in Hanoi Friday for a five-day official visit to boost ties between the two communist countries, the first leg of his four-nation Southeast Asia tour, officials said./AP
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The latest issue of the Hong Kong weekly Yazhou Zhoukan on Sunday reported, "The current visit to Vietnam by the North Korean delegation is preparing for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's visit to Vietnam. When General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh visited Pyongyang last week, Kim Jong-il expressed his intention to the Vietnamese leader that he would benchmark Vietnam's reform and opening policy."
Manh visited Pyongyang on Oct. 16-18, the first visit of a top Vietnamese leader in 50 years. During his visit, Kim Jong-il praised the success of the Doi Moi policy and accepted his invitation to Vietnam, the weekly added.
Kim Jong-il went to Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang to welcome and see Manh off, the first time he has done so in honor of a foreign visitor since the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao in October 2005.
Meanwhile, North Korea in April restored its diplomatic ties with Burma, with which it had suspended relations for 24 years. In the six months since then, it has established diplomatic relations with five countries -- Guatemala, Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Swaziland and Montenegro. Despite his advanced age of 80, Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, visited Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Singapore in July and August.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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