Present there were officials of the two organizations, personages of different strata, families of those who are related to the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and veterans of the Chinese People's Volunteers.

The ambassador and staff members of the DPRK embassy in Beijing were present there on invitation.

Li Xiaohua, vice-president of the China Association for International Friendly Contact, said that Kim Jong Il's reelection as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea at its Conference was an event of specially significance in accomplishing the cause of the Korean revolution and developing the Sino-DPRK friendship.

Praising Kim Jong Il for his immortal exploits for the development of the Sino-DPRK friendship through his two visits to China last year, the vice president expressed the belief that the friendship would further develop under the concern of the leaders of the two countries this year, too.

Ji Jae Ryong, DPRK ambassador to China, said that the stability and invincibility of the friendly relations between the two countries have been fully displayed last year.

He noted that the Korean people would make positive efforts to further develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship with the Chinese comrades this year marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

A performance was given by Chinese artistes.