A reception was held on Monday in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

The reception, held at the Pyongyang People's Palace, was co-hosted by the DPRK-China Friendship Association and the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.

Addressing the reception, Jon Yong Jin, vice chairman of the Committee, congratulated the Chinese people on their coming National Day, which falls on October 1.

He said that it is the persistent stand of the DPRK to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship.

The DPRK will work with China to demonstrate to the world the wills of the two peoples to further promote their friendship through the Year of DPRK-China Friendship, which featured various events and exchanges scheduled for this year by the two governments, he added.

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, briefed his guests on China's achievements over the past 60 years. He vowed that China will work hard for a better future of the bilateral ties in the spirit of "inheriting tradition, facing up to the future, building good neighborly friendship and strengthening cooperation."

Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, was also present at the reception.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2009)