Pyongyang, November 5 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, hosted a grand banquet to welcome the visit to the DPRK by Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, on Sunday evening.

Supreme Leader of the Party, state and army Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju gladly greeted the Cuban president and his wife at the lobby of the Mokran House, the venue of the banquet.

Present there were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee, Premier Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, other officials of the party and government and commanding officers of the Korean People's Army.

Present there on invitation were the members of the delegation of the Republic of Cuba and staff members of the Cuban embassy here.

Kim Jong Un together with Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez entered the banquet hall to a thunderous ovation of all the participants.

Kim Jong Un made a speech in welcome of the visit to the DPRK by Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba.

He said that the meeting with the Cuban president marked a watershed in demonstrating the will to carry forward forever the friendship between the two countries.

Saying that the two countries are in the same trench in the struggle for defending sovereignty and dignity of their countries and safeguarding international justice, he expressed invariable support and encouragement to the Cuban people building a powerful and prosperous country.

He expressed thanks to the friendly party, government and people of Cuba for extending absolute support and encouragement to the struggle of the DPRK for socialist construction and independent reunification of the country, stressing that he would consolidate and develop the strategic and comradely friendship with Cuba.

Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez made a reply speech.

He emphasized that his visit to the DPRK at a historic period of inheriting the cause of the revolution in Cuba is an evident sign of the fixed stand of the Cuban party and government to invariably develop the relations with the DPRK.

He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Korean people for warmly greeting them with the feelings of friendship toward the Cuban people, giving a wonderful welcome performance, and hosting a grand banquet. He also thanked the party, government and people of the DPRK for fully supporting the just cause of the Cuban people.

He voiced his will to meet all challenges by the hostile forces and to invariably carry forward the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

The banquet proceeded in a warm friendly atmosphere. -0-