North Korean leader Kim Jong-il says he wants to benchmark Vietnam’s reform policies.

The Hong Kong periodical Asia Weekly quoted Kim as making the comment to the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party Nong Duc Manh, who visited Pyongyang earlier this month.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem told Asia Weekly in an interview that Kim praised Vietnam’s economic reforms called "Doi Moi," which began in 1986.

Khiem accompanied Manh to Pyongyang, and said Kim accepted an invitation to visit Vietnam to learn more about Vietnam’s economic development.

The report said North Korea’s premier Kim Yong-il is apparently visiting Vietnam this week to prepare for Kim Jong-il's possible visit.