Present there on invitation were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Yong Chol, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, Pak Kyong Son, Sin Yong Hun and others and officials concerned.

On hand were staff member of the embassy.

Liu Xiaoming said in his speech at the reception that China and the DPRK have boosted the mutually beneficial cooperation through colorful events this year, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, developing the Sino-DPRK friendly relations on a higher level.

Noting that the Korean people will greet the 65th birthday of the WPK next year, he wished them greater success under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

He stressed that the Chinese people would strive hard shoulder to shoulder with the Korean comrades to boost the relations between the two parties and countries.

Choe Thae Bok said in his speech that 2009 would be remembered by the peoples of the two countries as an unforgettable year.

He expressed the hope that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with Hu Jintao as General Secretary the fraternal people of China would register fresher successes in their endeavors for building a harmonious socialist society based on the scientific outlook on development and implementing the decisions of the 4th plenary meeting of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

He expressed belief that the exchanges and cooperation between the two parties and peoples would grow stronger through the concerted efforts of both sides in the new year.