Floral baskets were sent to the DPRK by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the president of Laos who is the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the chief of the Palestinian National Authority on the occasion of the birthday of Kim Jong Il.

Floral baskets carrying the best wishes for his good health and well-being were sent to the diplomatic missions of the DPRK in the capital cities of more than 50 countries and he was presented with gifts by heads of state, political parties, ministries of governments, organizations, institutions and figures of various strata of the said countries. They included the king and the great king of Cambodia, the Commission for External Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front of Vietnam, the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, the vice-president of Syria, the general secretary of the Party for Unity and Progress of Guinea, the Workers' Party of Mexico, the chairman of the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru, the China Association for International Friendly Contact, the Beijing Association for Int

ernational Friendly Contact, the State Academic Igor Moiseyev Dance Company and the "Orchestra of the 21st Century" of Russia.

The Russian Federation of International Charity Organizations "World of Goodwill" presented him with an order "Guardian of Justice and Peace", the Nepal Journalist Association awarded a "Peace Prize for 2009" to him while Oaxaca State of Mexico conferred honorary title "Extraordinary Amigo" upon him.

Preparatory committees for celebrating February 16 were inaugurated one after another in Russia, Cambodia, Indonesia, France, Egypt, Democratic Congo, Uganda, Mexico and many other countries and regions.

A total of more than 300 political and cultural events including meetings, seminars, lectures, book and photo exhibitions and film shows were sponsored by ruling parties, progressive parties, organizations and the above-said committees in at least 80 countries and regions.

The Dar Damascus Publishing House of Syria published book "Kim Jong Il and his theory of Songun politics" and international organizations and organizations of different countries issued bulletins or posted on Internet articles titled "Kim Jong Il, a leader of decision", "Holiday common to humankind" and "A year of devotion to building a rich and powerful country."