Present there on invitation were Wang Jiarui, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Liu Zhenmin, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Donghe, chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association, and other officials concerned.

Present there were Ji Jae Ryong, DPRK ambassador to China, and his embassy officials.

Ji said in his speech at the reception that Kim Jong Il visited China several times, making a great contribution to boosting the traditional DPRK-China friendship.

The Korean people will make joint efforts with the Chinese people to more beautifully adorn the flower garden of the traditional DPRK-China friendship true to the noble intention of the top leaders of the two countries this year marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and China, and to defend the peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and the rest of the world, he stressed.

Wang said that Kim Jong Il who is alive in the minds of the Korean people is a close friend of the Chinese people.

The peoples of the two countries linked by the same mountain and rivers have always shared joy and sorrow and the Chinese party and government value the friendship with the DPRK very much, Wang said, expressing the will to further expand exchange and cooperation between the two countries this year marking the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and the DPRK.