Present there on invitation were Kang Sok Ju, vice-premier of the Cabinet; Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade; Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs; Kim Jin Bom, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who is chairman of the DPRK-Russia Friendship Association; and officials concerned.

Staff members of the Russian embassy were on hand.

Alexandr Timonin in his speech said that the conclusion of the agreement 65 years ago marked a significant historic event in which both sides had started multi-faceted cooperation.

The principle of mutually beneficial cooperation, the basis of the agreement, was reflected in the agreement between the top leaders of the two countries in the new century and has been firmly adhered to since then, he noted.

He expressed hope that the friends of the DPRK would achieve successes in the work for bolstering up the national power.

Kang Sok Ju referred to the fact that the two countries had developed the bilateral relations through the economic cooperation and diverse cultural exchange for 65 years since the agreement was concluded.

He said that the DPRK-Russia relations have recently developed on good terms in the political, economic, cultural and other various fields under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries.

He noted that the DPRK will continue advancing hand in hand with the friends of Russia to boost the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations.