Wu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, hosted a reception at the embassy Monday evening on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the signing of the DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The ambassador in his speech said China and the DPRK have registered great successes in the work to develop bilateral cooperative relations and made significant contribution to the regional peace and stability in the spirit of the Sino-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance over the last 43 years.

We remember the immortal contributions made by the leaders of the old generation of the two countries to the development of Sino-DPRK friendship, he said, and added: The exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people and a close friend of the Chinese people, for the development of the Sino-DPRK friendly relations will shine through all ages.

Some time ago, he further said, leader Kim Jong Il visited China and shared the same view with the new collective leadership of China on the development of bilateral relations and matters of common concern. This proved to be a powerful impetus to the development of the Sino-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations.

The ambassador wholeheartedly wished the Korean people greater successes in building a great prosperous powerful nation, achieving the independent and peaceful reunification of the country and boosting external relations.

Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, in his speech said the signing of the treaty provided the blood-sealed DPRK-China friendship with a solid legal foundation for preserving its tradition and making steady progress.

Recalling that Kim Jong Il paid a visit to China in April and deepened intimacy and friendship with the new collective leadership of China, he said it was a historic event of epoch-making significance in developing the DPRK-China friendship. He noted that after Kim Jong Il's China visit, the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and China are comprehensively developing in all fields at a new higher stage in the spirit agreed upon between the top leaders of the two countries.

He sincerely wished the Chinese people greater successes in their work to build a comprehensively well off society by the year 2020.

Present there on invitation were Kim Su Hak, minister of Public Health who is chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, Pak Kyong Son, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Sang Ik, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned.

Also present there were staff members of the Chinese embassy.

Source: KCNA