Present there on invitation were a vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, Wu Donghe, chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association, Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the Communist Party of China, Hu Zhengyue, assistant to the foreign minister of China, and other officials concerned.

Ambassador Choe Jin Su and officials of the embassy were on hand.

Choe said in a speech at the reception that the Korean people are much rejoiced over the successes achieved by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China last year and sincerely wish them greater victory in the new year.

He expressed the belief that exchange and cooperation would be further strengthened in various fields, as intended by the top leaders of the two countries, in significant 2009 marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, thus recording a new chapter in the history of the DPRK-China friendship.

The vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress said in a speech that the Sino-Korean friendly and cooperative relations have steadily developed under the warm care of the top leaders of the two countries and by the joint efforts in the last one year. Especially, unreserved support and assistance the DPRK rendered to China when a great earthquake hit Wenchuan and during the Beijing Olympiad were a full demonstration of the traditional friendship between the two countries, he added.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the China-DPRK diplomatic ties and it is the "year of DPRK-China friendship", a year of specially historic significance in the Sino-Korean relations, he said, stressing: We, together with Korean comrades, are willing to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship through colorful activities, promote practical cooperation and create more beautiful future of the Sino-Korean friendly relations.