Present there on invitation were DPRK Ambassador to China Ri Ryong Nam and staff members of his embassy.

On hand were Lin Songtian, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned including those of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Central Military Commission of China.

Speeches were made.

The president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries wished the Korean people greater success in the struggle for implementing the decisions made at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea under the leadership of the Party led by General Secretary Kim Jong Un, adding that the DPRK has achieved a great progress in carrying out the cause of socialism despite all difficulties for the last 73 years.

He noted that the friendship between China and the DPRK provided and cultivated by the leaders of the two parties and two countries in the course of protracted revolutionary struggle and socialist construction has steadily developed to be handed over as common wealth generation after generation, despite the changes of international situation and times.

DPRK Ambassador Ri Ryong Nam said that the foundation of the DPRK was a birth of independent and popular state, the first of its kind in the 5,000-year-long history of the Korean nation, and a great event ushering in a new era of building a powerful country.

He said that the DPRK would make positive efforts, together with Chinese comrades, to consolidate and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and China which have been placed on a new high stage as intended by the top leaders of the two countries.

A performance was given by Chinese artistes and children at the reception.