Present there on invitation were Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, Kim Jong Suk, chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Ri Yong Chol, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, and officials concerned.

On hand were staff members of the Cuban embassy.

Jose Manuel Galego Montano in his speech at the reception referred to the fact that Kim Jong Il has wisely led the Korean people in their endeavors for socialist construction and the reunification of the country.

The fraternal friendly relations between Cuba and the DPRK provided by Fidel Castro Ruz and President Kim Il Sung have grown stronger under the deep care of Raul Castro Ruz and Kim Jong Il, he added.

He expressed belief that the Korean people united close around Kim Jong Il would open the gate to a thriving nation in 2012.

Kim Ki Nam said in his speech that the birth of Kim Jong Il as the son of guerillas was a great auspicious event as it promised a rosy future of the country and the Korean revolution.

Noting that this year marks the golden jubilee of the opening of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Cuba, he stressed that the DPRK would develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties, governments and peoples in the future, too.

He hoped that the fraternal Cuban people would achieve greater successes in their efforts for defending their country and revolution, united close around the Communist Party of Cuba.