Present there on invitation were Ambassador Jose Manuel Galego Montano and staff members of the Cuban embassy here.

On hand were Kim Yong Jin, chairman of the Education Commission who is chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with Cuba, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Mun Jae Chol, vice-chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, officials concerned and working people in the city.

Kim Yong Jin said in his speech that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz are developing on good terms under the deep care of General Secretary Kim Jong Il and Comrades Fidel Castro Ruz and Raul Castro Ruz.

Recalling that over the past 50 years the two peoples have fully supported and closely cooperated with each other while struggling for victory of the socialist cause, he stressed that the Korean people would make all every possible effort to strengthen the militant friendship and cohesion with the Cuban people in the future, too.

Jose Manuel Galego Montano said that the relations between Cuba and the DPRK are the militant friendly relations forged in the common struggle to defend the independence and sovereignty of each country and socialism.

He sincerely hoped that the Korean people would attain the objectives set by them and that there would be fresh successes in the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.