Present at the reception on invitation were head of the delegation Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission of Politics and Law of the Communist Party of China, Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC, Sun Zhengcai, secretary of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC, Liu Jieyi, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC, Qiu Yuanping, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the C.C., the CPC, Zhang Zhijun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Chen Jian, vice-minister of Commerce, Chen Xi, deputy secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPC, and Du Yuxin, deputy secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the CPC, who are members of the delegation and others, Liu Hongcai, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of his embassy.

Present there were Kim Yong Nam, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Il, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK, Ju Yong Sik, chief secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee of the WPK, Ri Man Gon, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK, O Su Yong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Hi Thaek, chief secretary of the Ryanggang Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Song Nam, vice department director of the C.C., the WPK, Kim Song Gi, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Ku Pon Thae, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, and officials concerned.

Kim Yong Nam said in his speech made at the reception that the DPRK-China friendship which stood all trials and tests of history is more favorably developing day by day under the deep care of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries.

The Korean people are rejoiced over the great achievements made by the fraternal Chinese people in the socialist modernization drive with Chinese characteristics under the correct leadership of the CPC, he noted.

He expressed belief that the Chinese people would achieve greater successes in the work to build a harmonious socialist society by implementing the scientific outlook on development under the leadership of the CPC with Hu Jintao as general secretary.

It is the steadfast stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations generation after generation, he stressed, adding:

We will continue strengthening mutual support and cooperation with the Chinese comrades in the efforts to accomplish the cause of socialist construction as intended by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries and positively strive to keep the flower garden of the DPRK-China friendship beautiful.

Zhou Yongkang said in his speech that over the past 65 years the WPK has wisely led the Korean people to establish the regime in which they became masters and brought about a new phase in socialist construction of Korean style.

He expressed the belief that the hard-working and resourceful Korean people would achieve great successes in building a thriving nation under the leadership of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il and thus significantly greet 2012, the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung.

The Sino-DPRK friendship, the common treasure, provided by the leaders of the elder generation of the two parties and the two countries, is growing strong as the days go by, he said.

It is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to steadily boost the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, he noted, declaring that China would make positive efforts with the Korean comrades to develop the Sino-DPRK relations and achieve regional peace and prosperity.