PYONGYANG, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will continue to strengthen its traditional friendship with China, a senior DPRK official said here Friday.

    The relationship between the DPRK and China has developed smoothly over the years in such fields as politics, economy and culture, said Choe Chang Sik, chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK-China Friendship Association.

    He was speaking at a reception held Friday in the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to mark the 47th anniversary of a DPRK-China friendship treaty.

    The year 2009 marks the "China-DPRK Friendship Year," to be held jointly by the two countries, said Xing Haiming, China's charge d'affaires in Pyongyang.

    China will work together with the DPRK to host the event in a bid to take bilateral ties to a higher level, he added.

    Yang Hyong Sop, the vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly, also attended the reception.

    The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and the DPRK was signed on July 11, 1961.