Pyongyang, October 31 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong I, Monday met Liu Hongcai, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.

Present there were Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Kim Kyong Hui, member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., the WPK, Jang Song Thaek, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and vice chairman of the National Defence Commission, and Kim Yong Il and Kim Yang Gon, alternate members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C. the WPK.

Liu Hongcai and staff members of the Chinese embassy here were present there.

Liu Hongcai conveyed warm greetings from Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and president of China, to Kim Jong Il.

He also conveyed thanks to Kim Jong Il from Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Communist Party of China and vice-premier of the State Council of China, who visited the DPRK recently.

The ambassador said that new landmark events took place in the relations between the two parties and countries in this meaningful year, the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Sino-DPRK treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, further promoting their development.

He noted that General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited China in May and August, performing immortal feats in consolidating and developing the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship.

Li Yuanchao, member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the C.C., the CPC who is head of its Organization Department, Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the CPC and vice-premier of the State Council of China, Meng Jianzhu, State councilor and minister of Public Security of China, and other senior officials of the Chinese party and government visited the DPRK in this meaningful year, he said, adding: They were received by Kim Jong Il and had in-depth discussions and reached effective agreements with Korean comrades on the important issues arising in boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and countries in different fields including politics, economy and culture.

Liu Hongcai and the staff members of the embassy expressed heartfelt thanks to Kim Jong Il for sparing precious time to meet them again though he was very busy steering the building of a prosperous and powerful nation and manifested their will to make positive efforts for the steady development of the Sino-DPRK friendship.

Kim Jong Il highly appreciated the positive efforts made by the staff members of the Chinese embassy here to make a big contribution to the development of the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations.

He hosted a dinner for Liu Hongcai and staff members of the embassy.

The dinner proceeded in a cordial atmosphere overflowing with friendship.