PYONGYANG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Il hosted a dinner party on Saturday for new Chinese ambassador Liu Hongcai, Chinese embassy diplomats and the visiting Chinese Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team.

The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee Secretary Kim Ki Nam said in his address the traditional DPRK-China friendship, which was fostered by the elder generations of the two countries' leaders, had developed to new levels under the guidance of WPK General Secretary Kim Jong Il and Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao.

Liu said China wanted to make more effort with the DPRK side for continuous consolidation and development of the China-DPRK friendship and cooperation.

WPK Central Committee Secretary Choe Thae Bok, DPRK Foreign Affairs First Vice-Minister Kang Sok Ju and other major WPK and DPRK military officials were present at the party, at which the Chinese and DPRK sides sang national songs.

Before the party, Choe, Kim Ki Nam and Liu watched a friendly match between the Tianjin volleyball team and the 4.25 Women's Volleyball Team of the DPRK.