Attending the ceremony were Ri Ju O, vice-premier of the Cabinet; Kim Yong Jae, minister of External Economic Relations; Kim In Chol, vice-chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, and officials of economic and trade organs and delegations from different countries and regions of the world and members of foreign diplomatic missions here.

Pak Ung Sik, president of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation, gave an opening address and then O Ryong Chol, vice-minister of External Economic Relations, made a congratulatory speech.

Speakers said that the trade fair would offer a good opportunity in promoting the friendship and cooperation among countries and contributing to the multilateral interchange and the development of regional economy.

They expressed the will to boost the external economic relations with countries and regions on the principle of equality and mutual benefit and continue developing the bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

At the end of the ceremony, the participants went round the products displayed by companies from the DPRK, Syria, China, Cuba, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam and Taipei of China and other countries and regions.

The fair will last till Sept. 28.