In his lifetime, he visited 87 countries on 54 occasions and received more than 70,000 foreigners including over 400 heads of party, state and government to give clear-cut answers to all important political, economic and other problems raised by the times.

Charmed by his outstanding ideology, theory and personality, foreigners have boundlessly revered him, looking up to him.

This year, too, preparatory committees for commemorating the Day of the Sun were formed in many countries such as Russia, Britain, Pakistan, Ecuador, Mexico, South Africa and Italy and retrospective meetings, rallies, lectures, film shows, seminars, photo exhibitions and other political and cultural functions were held on the occasion.

At the joint meeting of the International Institute of Juche Idea, the Asian Regional Institute of the Juche Idea and organizations for the study of the Juche Idea in India, the participants lauded President Kim Il Sung as outstanding leader of the 20th century and his idea on self-reliance and independence as the beacon of the entire humankind aspiring after equality, freedom and justice.

Preparations for commemorating his 100th birth anniversary as the most significant holiday in human history are being made in a brisk way.

In January last year the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Association called upon the organizations of friendship and solidarity with the Korean people in various countries to organize preparatory committees for significantly greeting his 100th birth anniversary and to auspiciously commemorate the Day of the Sun in 2012.

In response to the appeal, the Nordic Cooperation Committee for Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People and the friendship and solidarity organizations in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland formed the Nordic preparatory committee to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary. Similar committees have been organized one after another in Germany, Czech Republic, Tanzania and other countries.

The participants in the inaugural meetings said in unison that to commemorate the Day of the Sun splendidly as a holiday common to the humankind is their firm will to shine his idea and exploits and to hold him as the eternal leader of the humankind's cause of independence.

Over last eight years since the first preparatory committee to commemorate the Day of the Sun was formed in Poland in January 2001 various preparatory committees including special preparatory committee, national preparatory committee and nation-wide preparatory committee were formed in 60-odd countries and international and regional organizations on over 400 occasions.

The preparatory committees held meetings, seminars, film shows, photo exhibitions and other political and cultural activities on more than 3,000 occasions over the last years.