Present there on invitation were Liu Hongcai, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of his embassy and Chinese guests staying here.

Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health who doubles as chairman of the Central Committee of the above-said association, Jon Yong Jin, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, others and officials concerned were among those present there.

Choe Chang Sik in his speech made there extended warm congratulations to the Chinese people on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

He referred to the fact that the Chinese people are striving to build a harmonious socialist society with Chinese characteristics based on the scientific outlook on development under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with Hu Jintao as its general secretary.

He stressed that the DPRK would make all its efforts to dynamically develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship on higher stage in the future.

Liu Hongcai in his speech said that the two historic visits to China of leader Kim Jong Il have put the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries on new high stage.

Saying that the Workers' Party of Korea Conference reelected Kim Jong Il as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, he wished the Korean people greater successes in their strenuous efforts to build a thriving nation in single-minded unity under the party leadership.

He stressed that the Chinese people would strive to bring about more beautiful future of the Sino-DPRK friendship under the agreement reached by the top leaders of the two countries.