Present there on invitation were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, and others.

Staff members of the Cuban embassy here were present there.

The ambassador said in his speech at the reception that the Korean people have achieved great successes in socialist construction and in the efforts to achieve the country's reunification under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Cuba will always remember the solidarity and firm support extended by the party, government and people of the DPRK to the Cuban people on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the revolution in Cuba, he noted.

He expressed belief that the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation for which Fidel Castro Ruz, Raul Castro Ruz and Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il have shown deep concern would grow stronger in various fields.

Choe Thae Bok in his speech said that holding Kim Jong Il in high esteem as supreme commander of the KPA was a historic event of fundamental significance in strengthening and developing the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK and accomplishing the socialist cause.

He said that the Korean people are pleased with the successes made by the Cuban people in their struggle for the development of the country, adhering to the revolutionary principle under the uplifted banner of socialism.

The Korean people will make positive efforts to boost the friendly and cooperative relations with the Cuban people in the future, too, he stressed.