Rason, October 13 (KCNA) -- A ceremony of running a trial train between Rajin and Khasan section took place outside the DPRK-Russia Friendship Pavilion in the area of Tumangang Station in Rason City.

Present there from the DPRK side were Vice Minister of Railways Ju Jae Dok, Vice-Chairman of the Rason City People's Committee Hwang Chol Nam, officials in the field of the railways and working people in Rason.

Present from the Russian side were Valery A. Reshetnikov, senior vice president of the "Russian Railways" Company, Igor A. Sagitov, minister-councilor of the Russian embassy here, Vyacheslav Tsupikov, Russian consul-general to Chongjin, those related to the railways and other guests.

Valery A. Reshetnikov, addressing the ceremony, said the bilateral cooperation in the railway transport now in progress amid the care of the top leaders of the two countries is a significant event in opening a new service line for freight transport.

The trial train service has greater significance as it is timed to coincide with the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of the DPRK-Russia diplomatic ties, he added.

Ju Jae Dok in his speech at the ceremony said that the train service will be recorded in the history of development of railway transport of the two countries.

The Rajin-Khasan freight transport will make contributions to the economic exchange not only between the DPRK and Russia but also Northeast Asia and Europe, he added.

Then followed congratulatory speeches.

The trial train departed for Khasan.

A reception was given to celebrate the train service.