Present there were Vice-Premier Ro Tu Chol, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of External Economic Relations, Kim In Chol, vice-chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, officials in the fields of the economy and trade, delegations from different countries and regions, foreign diplomatic envoys and their embassy officials here.

An opening address was made by Pak Ung Sik, director of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation, to be followed by a congratulatory speech by O Ryong Chol, vice-minister of External Economic Relations.

Speakers said the fair will be a good occasion for promoting the friendship and cooperation among countries and bringing about common economic development and prosperity.

They said that they would steadily boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation with various countries in the fields of the economy and trade on the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

At the end of the ceremony, the participants looked round products presented by companies of the DPRK, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, Romania, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Australia, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cuba and Taipei of China.

The fair will run through May 26.