Present there on invitation were Hao Xiaofei, Chinese charge d affaires ad interim here, and staff members of her embassy.

Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health who is chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, said in his speech that President Kim Il Sung and Premier Zhou Enlai signed the above-said treaty 48 years ago, adding that the two countries have steadily boosted the friendly and cooperative relations, supporting each other guided by the spirit of the treaty.

Referring to the fact that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are growing stronger day by day, he said he would make efforts to boost the friendly relations in the future, too.

He wished the Chinese people greater success in their work for significantly celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

The Chinese charge d affaires a.i. said in her speech that the two countries have achieved successes in the political, economic and cultural and various other fields, respecting and closely cooperating with each other in the spirit of the treaty for the past 48 years.

She recalled that the two countries have held colorful friendly events, noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and is celebrated as a "year of Sino-DPRK Friendship."

It is the consistent policy of the Chinese party and government to steadily boost the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations, she said, declaring that China would steadily advance the Sino-DPRK good neighborly and friendly relations.