Present at the opening ceremony were O Su Yong, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Ri Hak Gwon, head of the DPRK Chamber of Commerce, officials in the field of foreign trade, delegations and delegates of different countries and regions, diplomatic envoys and staff members of foreign embassies here.

A congratulatory speech made by O Ryong Chol, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, at the opening ceremony was followed by an inaugural speech by Kim Mun Jong, president of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation.

Speakers said that the fair would offer a good occasion of boosting the friendship and cooperation and good neighborly friendly relations among countries through their multi-faceted contacts and wide-ranging and close activities for developing economy and trade.

They stressed that the DPRK would make positive efforts to develop economic exchanges and cooperation with all countries friendly towards it on the principle of equality and mutual benefit and boost the international solidarity with the world peace-loving people in the future, too.

At the end of the ceremony, the participants looked round the machine tools, electric and electronic equipment, petrochemicals, vehicles, medicines, articles of daily use and foodstuffs displayed by companies and organizations of the DPRK, China, Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Syria, Sweden, Singapore, Australia, Austria, UK, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Poland, Turkey and Taipei of China.

A reception was given at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel in connection with the opening of the fair.

The fair will last till May 14.