The friendship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will continue to develop and scale new heights in 2010, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK said Tuesday.

Liu Xiaoming (R), Chinese ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), presents a certificate of a news award that is dedicated to the Year of China-DPRK Friendship to a delegation of Rodong Sinmun, DPRK's official daily newspaper, at the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang, capital of DPRK, Jan. 5, 2010. [Zhang Binyang/Xinhua]

The past year was one of profound meaning for the China-DPRK relationship, said Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at a reception for journalists from both countries held in the Chinese embassy.

The "Year of China-DPRK Friendship" in 2009 demonstrated to the world the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries, he said.

It helped root the China-DPRK friendship in people's hearts, and energized the all-round development of bilateral ties, he added.

Friendly China-DPRK relations, he said, were not only in the interests and common wishes of the two peoples, but helpful to regional peace and stability.

China would continue to boost bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all spheres and work for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, in the spirit of "inheriting tradition, facing up to the future, building good neighborly friendship and strengthening cooperation," Liu said.

The two countries would maintain high-ranking exchanges, deepen economic and trade cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination on important issues, and boost exchanges and cooperation of culture and between youth, he said.

He also expressed the wish that the two countries' media conduct accurate and swift coverage of the China-DPRK friendship.

As for the nuclear issue, Liu said there was some positive progress towards restarting the six-party talks.

It was the consensus of the international community that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula be realized through dialogue and negotiation, which was the only path to solve the problem, he said.

All six countries should seize the opportunity to bring about the reopening of the six-party talks.

The DPRK-China friendship, fostered by the older generation of the leaders of the two countries, was energetic and unshakable, said Kim Gi Ryong, chief editor of Rodong Sinmun daily at the reception.

He vowed to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between journalists of the two countries.

Journalists and officials from Rodong Sinmun, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Minju Choson, and the Broadcasting Committee, among others, attended the reception.

Rodong Sinmun daily and the KCNA were acknowledged by the Chinese embassy for the work they had done to boost the China-DPRK friendship.