Present there were the secretary general of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, members of the visiting delegation and Pak Myong Ho, charge d'affaires ad interim of the DPRK embassy in Beijing.

Han said that China and Korea are the friendly neighbors linked by the same mountain and rivers and the Sino-Korea friendship sealed in blood is deeply rooted in the hearts of the peoples of the two countries.

Recently high-level visits have become frequent between the two countries and exchange and cooperation been steadily boosted in different fields including politics, economy and culture, a good trend of development, Han said, and went on:

This year is a significant year greeting the 55th anniversary of the formation of the friendship associations of the two countries. These friendship associations have made positive contributions to developing the friendly relations.

The two countries have invariably supported and encouraged each other despite the complicated international situation.

Han expressed the belief that the younger generations would boost the friendly relations down through generations.

The Chinese party and government have consistently set store by the Sino-Korea friendly relations, Han said, adding:

I am pleased that the Korean people are making positive efforts to carry out the behests of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, united close around the Workers' Party of Korea headed by First Secretary Kim Jong Un. I wish them bigger successes in the future.