Chinese ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Liu Hongcai and the DPRK's vice sports minister Son Kwang Ho on Monday signed a sports exchange protocol for 2015 between the two countries at People's Culture Palace in Pyongyang.

In their meeting before signature of the agreement, Liu spoke highly of the important role of sports exchange in consolidating and developing traditional China-DPRK friendly relationship and extended congratulations on extraordinary achievement made by DPRK athletes in international competitions in 2014.

Liu also voiced hope that sports departments of both China and DPRK can strengthen exchange and cooperation in the upcoming new year and elevate the level of competitive sports and mass sports campaigns in both countries, so as to make new contributions to cementing and advancing traditional China-DPRK friendship.

Son on his part said that enhancing sports exchange and cooperation with China is a major task of the DPRK's sports departments.

Collaboration between sports departments of the two countries and support for each other will push DPRK-China relations to keep moving forward, he said.

The agreement included 18 sports exchange programs covering football, shooting, judo and involved 585 people including coaches, athletes and physical educators from both countries.

In addition, both sides reached consensus on 19 training and exchange programs aimed at encouraging and promoting cooperation between China's three northeastern provinces and the DPRK's sports associations.

Original title in Xinhua: China, DPRK ink sports exchange agreement for 2015