The message said:

I extend warm congratulations and greetings to you and, through you, to the CPC, the government of the PRC and the Chinese people, on the occasion of the New Year 2009.

2009 which will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the PRC is a significant year which the peoples of the two countries agreed to celebrate as a "year of the DPRK-China friendship".

By significantly adorning the new year as a "year of the DPRK-China friendship" the peoples of the two countries will further deepen the mutual understanding and friendship and record another shining page in the history of the development of the DPRK-China friendly ties.

Our two countries are the friendly neighbors linked by the same mountain and rivers and the DPRK-China friendship is the precious common treasure handed down by the revolutionaries of the elder generation of the two countries.

Expressing the belief that the traditional DPRK-China friendly ties deeply rooted in the minds of the peoples of the two countries would grow stronger thanks to the efforts of the two sides in the new year, I sincerely wish you good health and happiness and the friendly people of your country big success in the struggle to significantly greet the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC under the leadership of the CPC with you as general secretary.