PYONGYANG, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The torch relay in Pyongyang will enhance friendship between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China, the DPRK's Olympic chief said Monday.

    The event will promote the cooperation and exchanges in sports between the two countries, and will show their traditional friendship to the world, said Park Hak Seon, chairman of the National Olympic Committee of the DPRK.

    The official made the remarks at a reception held by the Chinese Embassy to welcome the Beijing Olympic Flame to Pyongyang.

    The reception was attended by senior DPRK officials, including Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Park Kwan O, chairman of the People's Committee of Pyongyang, foreign diplomats in Pyongyang and famous DPRK athletes.

    Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, expressed thanks to various departments of the DPRK for their hard work in preparing for the torch relay in Pyongyang.

    He said he sincerely appreciates the strong support from the people of the DPRK to the Chinese people.

    The Olympic torch which will be used to carry the sacred flame in Pyongyang was displayed at the reception.

    The torch relay will be held on April 28 in Pyongyang, the 18thleg of its global trip. The preparations are going smoothly.

    "The committee will try its best to ensure the torch relay in Pyongyang is the smoothest and safest one," Park Hak Seon said.