Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will pay a visit to China shortly, said DPRK Ambassador to China Choe Jin Su in Beijing Monday.

Ambassador Choe Jin Su made the remark at a banquet marking the 55th anniversary of establishment of DPRK-China diplomatic ties. He spoke highly of the just-concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said the friendly relations between China and DPRK have witnessed new development in recent years. And the CPC and the Chinese government will continue to further the traditional China-DPRK friendship, he noted.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2004)