Among those present there on invitation were Li Yuanchao, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Communist Party of China and vice-president of China; Liu Jieyi, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., CPC; Liu Zhenmin, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs; and other officials.

Ji Jae Ryong, DPRK ambassador to China, and staff members of his embassy, were present there.

Ji Jae Ryong said in his speech that the maiden visit to China by Kim Jong Il was a historic event which greatly contributed to putting on a new high stage the traditional DPRK-China friendship which was provided and cultivated by President Kim Il Sung together with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai and other leaders of the elder generation of China and stood all tests of history and to ensuring the peace and security in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world and advancing the human cause of independence against imperialism.

He noted that the dear respected Kim Jong Un is paying deep attention to boosting the DPRK-China friendly relations true to the noble intention of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

We will as ever make joint efforts with Chinese comrades to steadily boost the traditional DPRK-China friendship, he added.

Li Yuanchao said in his speech that Kim Jong Il worked heart and soul to develop the Korean revolution and construction and the traditional Sino-DPRK friendly relations and made important contributions.

First Secretary Kim Jong Un in his recent personal letter sent to General Secretary Xi Jinping underlined the need to carry forward and develop the traditional Sino-DPRK friendly relations, Li Yuanchao noted.

The Chinese party and government set great store by the Sino-DPRK friendly relations and the new collective leadership of the Communist Party of China will together with the party and government of the DPRK respect and trust each other and conduct friendly exchange and cooperation in the spirit of inheriting the tradition, facing up to the future, building good-neighborly friendship and strengthening cooperation and thus promote the development of the Sino-DPRK friendly relations and defend the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Li Yuanchao stressed.