The action has been conducted only in China. The China Hong Kong Yu Pengnian Charity Foundation made a decision to launch it in the DPRK with a view to contributing to the development of traditional friendship between the two countries.

Through the action, the Foundation has so far rendered free medical services to hundreds of thousands of Chinese people with cataract, bringing eyesight to them, carried on relief activities for disaster-hit and poverty-stricken people and disseminated medical science and technologies.

Attending the ceremony were medical workers of the hospital and members of the medical delegation of the Foundation.

Vice-Minister of Public Health Kang Ha Guk in his congratulatory address expressed gratitude to Chairman of the Foundation Yu Pengnian and members of its delegation for having worked out a cooperation plan for free treatment of cataract in the DPRK and paid sincere efforts to its implementation.

"We believe that the Pengnian Light Action will help cure many cataract patients," he said, adding that the Foundation's activities will mark an important occasion in furthering the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in health service.

Peng Zhibing, secretary to the Foundation chairman, said in a congratulatory speech that they considered it a high pride to contribute to curing cataract patients in the DPRK. The DPRK Ministry of Public Health's cooperation with the Foundation is a great encouragement and support to its work for injecting vitality into the people's life by improving their health, Peng said.

Then a briefing on the Foundation was given at the ceremony.

Peng told KCNA:

"The Foundation has planned to treat cataract cases in the DPRK from months ago.

We intend to aid surgical operations on 400 patients this time and will continue such kind of cooperation in the future.

I am sure that our activities, in cooperation with the DPRK Ministry of Public Health, will bear desirable fruits."