The General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Committee Nong Duc Manh arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday on a three-day official visit to North Korea.

Kim Jong-il, North Korea's top leader, greeted Nong at airport, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The visit, at the invitation of Secretary General of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Committee, Kim Jong-il, is a manifestation of the firm support and solidarity to the North Korean people in their just cause of building a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation... and marks an important occasion in boosting the friendly relations between North Korea and Vietnam, said the KCNA.

High-level officials of both sides have exchanged visits, including visits to North Korea by late President Ho Chi Minh, late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and former President Tran Duc Luong.

North Korea's late president Kim Il-sung visited Vietnam twice and Prime Minister Kim Yong-il is scheduled to pay an official visit to Vietnam by the end of this month.

Vietnam and North Korea have signed a number of important treaties and agreements over the years, including an agreement on cultural cooperation in November 1957, an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation in October 1958, a treaty on friendship and cooperation in 1961, a trade and maritime agreement in December 1962 and an agreement on medical assistance in December 1966.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007)