A reception was held in Beijing Thursday to mark the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Chen Yongchang, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that China and DPRK are friendly neighbors and the two peoples enjoy profound traditional friendship. The two countries have had frequent high-level visits and exchanges in the new century, which plays an important role in promoting Sino-DPRK friendly cooperative ties.

The Chinese people are ready to join hands with the DPRK people to push forward Sino-DPRK friendship in the future, he added.

DPRK ambassador to China Choe Jin Su said that in recent years, DPRK-China friendship, which has withstood the test of time, has been consolidated with the care of the two state leaders. The DPRK will continue to make active efforts to promote bilateral friendly cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2005)