Present there on invitation were the members of the CPC delegation headed by Li Yuanchao, member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the C.C., the CPC who is head of its Organization Department, and staff members of the Chinese embassy here.

Present there were Choe Thae Bok and Kim Ki Nam, members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., the WPK, Kang Sok Ju, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C, the WPK and vice-premier of the Cabinet, Kim Yong Il, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C, the WPK, and Ri Yong Su, department director, and other officials of the C.C, the WPK.

Choe Thae Bok said in a speech at the reception that the DPRK visit paid by the CPC delegation at a time when the atmosphere of the DPRK-China friendship is growing strong thanks to General Secretary Kim Jong Il's visit to China is injecting vitality into the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and countries.

It is the steadfast policy of the WPK and DPRK government to boost the traditional DPRK-China friendship generation after generation, he noted, adding the WPK would work hard to fully embody the spirit of the agreement reached between the top leaders of the two countries and thus dynamically develop the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations.

He sincerely wished the Chinese people fresh successes in the efforts to put into practice the scientific outlook on development and build a harmonious society this year, the first year of the 12th five-year plan, under the guidance of the CPC with Hu Jintao as its general secretary.

Li Yuanchao in his speech said that he was pleased to visit the DPRK, a friendly neighbor, leading the delegation upon authorization of the C.C., the CPC with Hu Jintao as general secretary.

He expressed belief that the Korean people would successfully accomplish the cause of building a thriving nation while effecting a new great revolutionary surge in various fields of socialist construction under the leadership of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

Saying that it is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to boost the China-DPRK friendly relations, he expressed the will to create a rosy future of the two countries as intended by the top leaders together with the Korean comrades.