At the invitation of the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Chinese sports delegation headed by Gou Zhongwen, Director of General Administration of Sport of China, visited the DPRK from October 8th to 12th. On October 12th, Kim Yong Nam, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met with Gou Zhongwen and the delegation he headed.

Kim Yong Nam expressed that Chairman Kim Jong Un and General Secretary Xi Jinping have held three historic meetings this year, jointly guiding DPRK-China relations to a new and higher development stage. The Chinese sports delegation’s visit to the DPRK will further strengthen the friendly feelings between the two peoples, and push DPRK-China relations for long-term, sound and stable development. 

Gou Zhongwen expressed that this visit, as a concrete action to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, will vigorously promote sports exchanges between China and the DPRK as well as increase the understanding and friendship between the two peoples. The Chinese side is willing to, together with the DPRK side, well implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, and constantly deepen China-DPRK traditional friendly relations, so as to benefit the two peoples.

During the visit, the men's and women's basketball teams of the two countries played a mixed friendly match. Choe Ryong Hae, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and Vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee, and other Party and government leaders of the DPRK as well as principals of relevant departments watched the match. The delegation attended the welcoming dinners hosted respectively by the National Sports Guidance Committee and the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the DPRK, and held talks with the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports. The delegation visited and paid homage to the China-DPRK Friendship Tower, the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and the Former Residence of Mangyongdae, conducted friendly exchanges with DPRK children and youth at the Mangyongdae Children's Palace and Kim Il Sung University, and watched mass calisthenics Glorious Country and other art performances.

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