Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health and chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, An Tong Chun, minister of Culture and other officials concerned.

Staff members of the Chinese embassy were on hand.

Liu Hongcai in his speech at the reception said that General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited China twice this year to exchange opinions in depth with Hu Jintao and they gained important common understanding.

Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il the Korean people have achieved great successes in developing the economy and improving the standard of people's living through hard working in the spirit of self-reliance, he said, sincerely wishing the Korean people bigger advance in the building of a thriving nation in the New Year, too.

Yang Hyong Sop in his speech noted that 2010 is an unforgettable year for the peoples of the two countries and it is the consistent stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to ceaselessly develop this friendship which has stood all trials of history.

He heartily wished the Chinese people greater success in the drive to build a harmonious socialist society based on the scientific outlook on development.

Meanwhile, similar receptions were arranged at the consulates general of China and Russia in Chongjin.