A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government headed by Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, left Beijing Friday morning for an official goodwill visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Li pays the visit at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government.

Li's entourage includes Wang Jiarui, head of the CPC Central Committee's International Department, Ji Bingxuan, executive deputy head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, Sun Jiazheng, minister of culture, Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the CPC Central Committee's International Department, Wu Dawei, vice minister of foreign affairs, and Gao Hucheng, vice minister of commerce.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2004)