Present there on invitation were members of the delegation led by Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Xiaoming and his embassy officials.

Secretary Choe Thae Bok and Vice Department Director Kim Thae Jong of the WPK Central Committee and officials concerned were on hand.

Choe Thae Bok noted in his speech at the reception that the CPC made strides in the course of implementing the tasks set forth at the 17th Congress of the CPC last year.

Saying that the relations between the WPK and the CPC have developed on good terms under the deep care of their top leaders, he expressed belief that the DPRK-China friendship would grow stronger by joint efforts of both sides this year, the "year of the DPRK-China friendship".

Wang Jiarui said in his speech that the Korean people under the leadership of General Secretary
Kim Jong Il are working hard to open the gate to a great prosperous and powerful nation in 2012 that marks the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung.

He stressed that both sides would fully demonstrate the development of the friendly relations of the two countries this year marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties.