Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East Aleksandr Galushka (left) and DPRK Minister for External Economic Relations (right) sign the minutes of the 8th Meeting of the DPRK-Russian Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economics, Science and Technology at the People’s Palace of Culture on March 21, 2018 (Photo: KCNA).
The DPRK-Russia Intergovernment Committee for cooperation in trade, economic, science and technology occurred at a conference room in the People’s Palace of Culture in central Pyongyang during March 20 (Tuesday) and March 21 (Wednesday). The meeting was chaired by DPRK Minister of External Economic Relations (and former DPRK Ambassador to the Russian Federation) Kim Yong Jae [Kim Yo’ng-chae] and Russian Minister of Development of the Russian Far East Aleksandr Galushka. Also in attendance were Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora, other Russian Government officials along with officials and functionaries of the DPRK Cabinet, Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] International Affairs Department.
View of the 8th Meeting of the DPRK-Russian Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economics, Science and Technology which was held in Pyongyang from March to March 21 2018 (Photo: KCNA).
The meeting “discussed the matters of boosting the bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, science and technology.” At the end of the meeting, Kim and Galushka signed the minutes of the meeting.
DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol shakes hands with Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East Aleksandr Galushka at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 21, 2018 (Photo: KCNA).
On March 21 (Wednesday), Aleksandr Galushka and members of his travel party met and visited with DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol [Ro Tu-ch’o’l]. The Russian delegation later attended a reception, hosted by the DPRK, at the Koryo Hotel.
Ro Tu Chol and senior officials of the DPRK Cabinet meet with Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East Aleksandr Galushka and Russian officials in Pyongyang on March 21, 2018 (Photo: KCNA).
On March 19 (Monday), the Russian Embassy hosted a reception marking the 69th anniversary of the economic and cultural treaty between the DPRK and Soviet Union. Attending that event were Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora and other embassy officials, DPRK Minister of External Economic Relations Kim Yong Jae, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sin Hong Chol [Sin Hong-ch’o’l], DPRK-Russia Friendship Association Chairman and Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Vice Chairman So Ho Won [So Ho-wo’n], Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces External Relations Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Ryong Kyong Chol [Ryong-Kyo’ng-ch’o’l] and officials of the WPK International Affairs Department.
Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora explains a photo exhibition to DPRK Minister for External Economic Relations Kim Yong Jae, prior to a March 19, 2018 reception commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Soviet-DPRK treaty on cultural and economic cooperation (Photo: Embassy of Russia to the DPRK via VK).
Ambassador Matsegora said in his remarks that “we cherish the tradition of friendship and cooperation laid down by our predecessors. We are faced with the task of preserving everything we have achieved and giving a new start to Russian-Korean cooperation in new, much more difficult conditions.” Kim Yong Jae expressed “hope that in the coming year, bilateral exchanges and contacts in the political, economic and cultural fields will actively develop and great results of mutually beneficial cooperation will be achieved to demonstrate to the world the level of Korean-Russian relations and their potential. The Korean side is grateful for the support of its Russian friends and welcomes the efforts aimed at improving inter-Korean relations and easing the situation on the Korean Peninsula.” Kim also congratulated the Russian Government on their recent elections and wished “bright success in the implementation in the construction of a might Russia under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin.”