A party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China headed by Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, arrived in Pyongyang on April 11 to pay an official goodwill visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK.

Among the members of the delegation are Liu Jianchao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, Liu Qi, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, Sun Yeli, minister of Culture and Tourism, Ma Zhaoxu, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Fei, vice-minister of Commerce, Zhang Baoqun, deputy director of the International Military Cooperation Office of the Central Military Commission, and Yang Weiqun, deputy head of the State Office for International Development and Cooperation.

Pyongyang International Airport was in a welcoming atmosphere to greet the friendly mission from China.

The guards of honour of the Korean People's Army lined up at the stopping place before the terminal of the airport where the flags of the two countries were fluttering.

Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, first vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, warmly greeted the party and government delegation of the PRC.

The delegation was also greeted by Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Sung Jong Gyu, minister of Culture, Mun Song Hyok, deputy department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, Pak Myong Ho, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ryu Un Hae, vice-minister of External Economic Relations.

Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy staff members greeted the delegation.

A woman worker presented a bouquet to Zhao Leji.

Many citizens warmly welcomed the close Chinese friends, waving the flags of the two countries and bouquets.

At the Paekhwawon State Guest House a vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK and employees warmly greeted the delegation.

The visit to the DPRK by the party and government delegation of the PRC serves as a momentous occasion in significantly commemorating this year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as the year of DPRK-China friendship, true to the noble intentions of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, in further consolidating the friendly and cooperative relations with socialism as the core as required by the new era, and in strengthening the strategic and tactical cooperation to defend the common core interests.