Pham Binh Minh, who is also deputy prime minister, said during his three-day visit to the North Korean capital Pyongyang from February 12 that Vietnam’s consistent stance is to support dialogue to maintain peace, security and stability on the peninsula and actively contribute to this process.

He met with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Su Yong, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Minister Ri thanked Vietnam for its stance and efforts to boost dialogue for peace in the Korean peninsula.

His country wants to strengthen bilateral relations in accordance with the new situation, especially by 2020 when the two mark 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations, he said.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the Vietnamese delegates (L) meet with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and other officials in Pyongyang on February 13, 2019. Photo by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

He had visited Hanoi in November and held talks with Minh.

Minh’s visit to North Korea comes ahead of this month’s planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi.

Trump had announced the talks and its venue last week.

Vietnam welcomed it, and expressed its readiness to host the meeting on February 27 and 28. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered "thorough" preparation for the event earlier this week.

Vietnam's economic reforms are thought to be a suitable model for North Korea given the countries' shared historical and political background.