Present there on invitation were Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Liu Jieyi, Chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association Wu Donghe and officials concerned of the Ministry of Railways, the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Xinhua News Agency and others.

Ambassador Choe Jin Su and officials of the DPRK embassy in Beijing were present there.

Speeches were made there.

The DPRK ambassador said that the DPRK has developed into a socialist power, independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defence, while firmly defending the socialist system under the uplifted banner of the Juche idea over the past 61 years under the wise guidance of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Referring to the events of the "year of the DPRK-China friendship" and exchanges and cooperation brisk in all fields thanks to the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries and concerted efforts of both sides, he said that he would make all efforts to brilliantly decorate the "year of the DPRK-China friendship" and strikingly demonstrate its might.

The Chinese foreign minister said that over the past 61 years the Korean people have registered great successes in the socialist revolution and construction, single-mindedly united under the leadership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, adding: The Chinese people are sincerely rejoiced over these achievements and wholeheartedly wish them greater successes in all fields.

He stressed that China would boost cooperation and exchanges in all fields and continue to develop the bilateral relations in the spirit of "Inheriting tradition, facing up to the future, building good neighborly friendship and strengthening cooperation" on the occasions of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the "year of Sino-DPRK friendship".