Present on invitation were Ambassador Liu Hongcai and staff members of the Chinese embassy.

Secretary of the C.C., the WPK Kim Yong Il and Vice-Director Kim Song Nam and other officials of its International Affairs Department were on hand.

Kim Yong Il in his speech said that 2010 was a significant year when the flower garden of traditional DPRK-China friendship came into full bloom under the deep care of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries.

He recalled that General Secretary Kim Jong Il received the Chinese ambassador and his embassy officials several times last year.

He heartily wished the Chinese party and people greater success in their work to build a harmonious society with the scientific outlook on development.

He stressed that the DPRK would make all efforts to glorify and boost the DPRK-China friendship as intended by the top leaders of the two parties and the two counties this year, too.

Liu Hongcai in his speech said that 2010 was the significant year in developing the Sino-DPRK relations, adding that the exchange and cooperation between the two countries were briskly conducted in various fields.

Noting that General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited China twice last year, he was pleased that through visits of high-level delegations the friendly relations between the two parties and the two countries were further developed.

Noting that 2011 is an important year in developing the Sino-DPRK relations, he said that China would strive to carve out more beautiful future of the relations between the two parties and the two countries.

He sincerely hoped that the Korean people would register new successes by bringing about a decisive turn in building a thriving nation in response to the joint New Year editorial.