Pyongyang, December 23 (KCNA) -- Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and chairman of the Standing Committing of the Supreme People's Assembly, Wednesday met Li Jinjun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK who paid a farewell call on him, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.

Upon the authorization of Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Choe Ryong Hae courteously conveyed the words of Kim Jong Un to Li Jinjun.

Saying he is very satisfied over the fact that the DPRK-China friendship with socialism as the core has entered a fresh heyday under the leadership of the heads of the two parties today, Kim Jong Un highly praised the ambassador for successfully assisting several DPRK-China summit meetings over the past seven years, making much effort to develop the friendly relations between the two parties and the two countries and sharing bitters and sweets with the Korean people.

Hoping that the ambassador would make steady efforts to develop the friendly relations between the DPRK and China in good health, he sincerely wished the party, government and people of China bigger successes in their new one-hundred-year-long journey for achieving the prosperity of the Chinese nation under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Li Jinjun said that he could hardly repress his emotion at the words from General Secretary Kim Jong Un , and asked Choe Ryong Hae to convey his gratitude to Kim Jong Un for having shown deep care and solicitude for his work and life during his tenure.

The ambassador said he sincerely congratulates the Korean people on making progress in all fields of socialist construction and registering success in the first year for implementing the decisions made at the 8th Congress of the Party, in particular, by displaying the spirit of self-reliance and fortitude under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Un . He expressed his will to continue to strive for further developing the friendly relations between the two countries that have entered a new era under the direct guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries.

Attending the meeting were Kang Yun Sok, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Sung Jong Gyu, minister of Culture, So Ho Won, chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and Mun Song Hyok, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, and members of the Chinese embassy.

Earlier, Choe Ryong Hae conferred the Order of DPRK Friendship 1st Class on Li Jinjun.

The State Affairs Commission of the DPRK hosted a reception in honor of the ambassador in the evening. -0-