Present there on invitation were Sun Jiazheng, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Li Chenqun, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the Communist Party of China, Zhang Zhijun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Donghe, chairman of the China-Korea Friendship Association, and other officials concerned of China.

Ambassador Choe Jin Su and staff members of the DPRK embassy were on hand.

In his speech at the reception Choe Jin Su wished the Chinese people greater success in their work to build a harmonious socialist society and achieve the reunification of the country under the leadership of the CPC with Hu Jintao as its general-secretary.

Sun Jiazheng noted with high appreciation that President Kim Il Sung performed immortal exploits, which will remain long in history, by leading the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean people for many years, and expressed the will of the Chinese side to strive together with the DPRK side to make sure that the bilateral relations will result in richer fruition.

Meanwhile, a similar reception was given at the DPRK embassy in Moscow on April 13.

Present there on invitation were personages of government ministries, political parties, organizations and institutions of Russia including Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Zhirinovsky and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Borodavkin and Yazov, former Soviet Union defence minister.

The participants laid floral baskets and bouquets before the full-length picture of Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and looked round photos displayed on the theme of "President Kim Il Sung and Overseas Compatriots".

Speaking at the reception Ambassador Kim Yong Jae noted that President Kim Il Sung gave birth to the DPRK-Russia friendship long ago and made immortal contributions for the development of friendly and cooperative relations between the two peoples. And he expressed the will to continue to develop the bilateral relations in the spirit of the DPRK-Russia joint documents this significant year.

Borodavkin said that Russia and the DPRK have steadily worked to develop the bilateral relations and expand mutual cooperation in various fields on the basis of the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between the two countries signed in 2000 and the agreements reached between their top leaders.

A performance of the Russian State Academic People's Chorus Named after M. E. Pyatnichki was given at the reception.

A reception was also given at the DPRK Consulate General in Nakhodka of Russia on the same day.