Minister of People's Security Ju Sang Song who is member of the DPRK National Defence Commission, Choe Jung Hwa, vice-minister of People's Security, and other officials of the Ministry of People's Security were present.

Ju Sang Song said in his speech that Meng Jianzhu's visit to the DPRK is significant as it is the first visit taking place this year to boost the DPRK-China friendship and it gives pleasure to the Korean army and people celebrating the birthday of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

He referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il visited China twice last year and had significant meetings with the Chinese collective leadership including General Secretary Hu Jintao.

It is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship generation after generation, he added.

He stressed that the DPRK would make every effort to boost the DPRK-China friendship in conformity with the intentions of the top leaders of the two countries this year marking the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

Meng Jianzhu said that the Sino-DPRK friendship is a precious treasure provided by the leaders of the elder generation of the two countries. These friendly relations are steadily growing stronger under the deep care of General Secretary Hu Jintao and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he added.

He noted that Kim Jong Il visited China twice last year, putting the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations on a new stage.

It is the steadfast policy of the Communist Party and people of China to boost the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, he noted.

He expressed belief that the Korean people would register greater successes by effecting a new great revolutionary surge in building a thriving socialist nation under the leadership of the WPK headed by Kim Jong Il.