Present there were DPRK Ambassador Kim Yong Jae and his embassy officials and Chinese Ambassador Li Hui and his embassy officials.

The participants made a bow before the full-length painting of President Kim Il Sung standing with General Secretary Kim Jong Il and saw round photos displayed on the theme of "Great life devoted to the people" and "Education in DPRK".

Kim Yong Jae said in his speech at the meeting that over the half century since the signing of the treaty the two parties and the two governments have supported and closely cooperated with each other in various fields, powerfully demonstrating the tremendous vitality of the DPRK-China friendship before the whole world.

The traditional DPRK-China friendly relations are being successfully carried forward and developed on a new higher stage, he noted, expressing belief that the vitality of the DPRK-China friendship would be powerfully demonstrated once again this year.

Li Hui said the Chinese side would join the DPRK side in making positive efforts to put the friendly and cooperative relations onto a higher level by thoroughly implementing the agreements reached between the top leaders of the two countries.

He said China would join the DPRK side in making concerted efforts to boost the bilateral friendly relations and protect the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples in the future, too.

Then it followed a reception and a joint art performance.