Present there on invitation were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education who doubles as chairman of the DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee, and others.

Staff members of the Cuban embassy here were present there.

Jose Manuel Galego Montano said in his speech made at the reception that since the victory of the revolution the Cuban people have made great successes in various fields while frustrating the imperialists' moves for aggression and economic blockade. Cuba will build socialism with optimism about future to suit its actual conditions, he noted, and continued:

Cuba is proud of having particular friendly relations with the Workers' Party of Korea led by Kim Jong Il and the Korean people.

Recalling that the two countries significantly observed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, he declared the Cuban people would as ever stand by the Korean people in their efforts to accomplish the just cause.

Yang Hyong Sop said in his speech that the Cuban people have made great progress in accomplishing the socialist cause while firmly defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country.

He noted that the WPK and the government of the DPRK are rejoiced as over their own over the successes made by the Cuban people in socialist construction.

The Korean people will as always join the Cuban comrades in the positive efforts to steadily expand and develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries based on the revolutionary obligation, he concluded.