Present there on invitation were Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Kang Nung Su, minister of Culture, Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health who doubles as chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, Pak Kyong Son, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations here.

Liu Xiaoming said in his speech at the reception that the founding of new China marked a historic starting point in bringing prosperity to the Chinese nation.

He stressed that the Sino-DPRK friendship provided by the revolutionaries of the elder generation struck deep roots in the hearts of the peoples of the two countries and has brought them well-being and served as common wealth.

It is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to steadily boost the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, he noted, adding that the Chinese people would carry forward the tradition and carve out a future hand in hand with the Korean people.

Choe Chang Sik in his speech referred to the achievements made by the Chinese people in various domains under the leadership of the Communist Party of China over the past six decades.

The DPRK-China friendship which stood all sorts of trials of history is the common wealth deeply cherished by the peoples of the two countries, he noted, adding that this fact is proved once again through the events of the "year of DPRK-China friendship."

He expressed belief that the bilateral friendship would grow stronger under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries.

On the same day the Chinese consul general in Chongjin gave a reception to mark the national day of China.