Reception Hosed by CPAFFC and CKFA to Mark 78th Birthday of DPRK

Pyongyang, September 15 (KCNA) -- The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Korea Friendship Association co-hosted a reception in Beijing on September 7 to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Present there on invitation were Ri Ryong Nam, DPRK ambassador to China, and his embassy members.

On hand were Lu Xiangdong, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and officials concerned of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Office of International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission, the People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Association for International Friendly Contact, the Beijing Municipal People's Government and the Beijing Municipal People's Association for Friendship.

Speeches were made at the reception.

Vice-President Lu Xiangdong said that over the past 78 years, the diligent and brave Korean people have achieved rich successes in the socialist revolution and construction under the guidance of President Kim Il Sung, Comrade Kim Jong Il and General Secretary Kim Jong Un. The fraternal Korean people are now rushing toward the goal of building a socialist power, overcoming the difficulties encountered, united close around the Workers' Party of Korea headed by General Secretary Kim Jong Un, he noted, adding: We are sincerely pleased with this as a good neighbor, good friend and good comrade.

He noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un had several historic meetings and have kept close visits in various forms, guiding the traditional China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations to a new era of history.

Ambassador Ri Ryong Nam said that on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the DPRK, the Korean people are recollecting with pride the glorious course in which they have dynamically advanced for building a powerful socialist country, despite all trials and difficulties, under the wise guidance of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il and respected Comrade Kim Jong Un.

Thanks to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's outstanding leadership, the Korean people are making creditable and epoch-making successes in the struggle for the comprehensive national prosperity, the ambassador said, adding: Under the respected General Secretary's tested guidance, our people will carry through the tasks set forth by the Ninth WPK Congress and steadily achieve signal successes in the struggle for the comprehensive development of socialism. -0-