Displayed there are latest science and technology books and information presented by dozens of organizations of over 20 countries and regions, including the DPRK, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia, and overseas Koreans organizations, international organizations, individuals, foreign embassies and missions of international organizations here.

Present there were Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong Suk, chairwoman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries who doubles as chairwoman of the organizing committee of the book fair, Ri Ui Gu, vice-president of the State Academy of Sciences, and others.

Also on hand were delegations and delegates of foreign countries, international bodies and overseas Koreans and staff members of foreign embassies and missions of international organizations here.

The participants paid tribute to the marble statue of President Kim Il Sung at the Grand People's Study House.

Kim Jong Suk in an opening address said that the book fair is contributing to making progress and prosperity common to mankind and developing the friendly and cooperative relations among peoples of various countries of the world.

She expressed hope that the book fair would prove successful thanks to the sincere efforts and positive activities of its participants.

Vladimir Fridlyanov, president of the Russian Foundation for Humanities, who is heading its delegation, in a congratulatory speech said that the state and social attention to the field of science and technology is an important factor of guaranteeing successes in international exchange and cooperation as well as the development of the countries' science and technology.

He hoped that the book fair would contribute to building a thriving nation and developing science and technology in the DPRK.

At the end of the opening ceremony the participants went round books and information on display.