On the afternoon of October 28, 2009, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President, met at the Great Hall of the People with a delegation of the Workers' Party of Korea of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), headed by Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers´ Party of Korea.

Hu welcomed the delegation's visit to China on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. He said, since the two countries established diplomatic ties 60 years ago, China-DPRK relations have weathered the tests of international vicissitudes and been further consolidated and developed. In the new century, the leaders of the two countries and their ruling parties have attached great importance to bilateral ties, which have thus gained new vigor and vitality, he said. In particular, the celebrations and exchange activities marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the China-DPRK friendship year have helped deepen traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, and the friendly cooperative relations have been pushed to a new level, Hu said.

He said the friendship between China and the DPRK, which was established and carefully fostered by leaders of older generations, has been precious wealth for the two peoples and "it is our shared responsibility and mission to continuously consolidate and develop the friendly cooperative relations." The CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to China-DPRK relations, and we are willing to work with DPRK comrades to further advance bilateral friendly exchange in all areas and at all levels and push the friendly cooperative relations to a new level in the spirit of inheriting the tradition, facing the future, maintaining the good-neighborliness and friendship and enhancing cooperation. The two sides should work hard to maintain regional peace and stability, and promote common development and prosperity, Hu said.

Choe said thanks to the care and efforts of generations of leaders of the two countries, the political foundations of bilateral ties have been consolidated in the past 60 years and new achievements have been made in friendly cooperation in all fields. The development of DPRK-China relations has enhanced the socialist construction in both countries and made great contribution to maintaining global and regional peace, he said. The DPRK side highly evaluated the important constructive role that China has played in international and regional affairs, he said. Choe stressed that it is a firm belief of the Workers' Party of Korea, the DPRK government and people to promote the traditional friendship with China in the new situation.

He also congratulated the Chinese people for the achievement in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. He believed that the Chinese people will successfully fulfill the development goals set at the 17th CPC National Congress.

Wang Jiarui, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was present at the meeting.