Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture in the DPRK on Friday to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Ponghwa Trade Bureau.

Present there were Kim Tok Hun, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and officials and employees of the trade bureau.

Kim Tok Hun conveyed a congratulatory message sent by the C.C., the WPK to the officials and employees of the trade bureau.

The C.C., the WPK in its message said that the trade bureau, which recorded the glory founded by the direct initiative of President Kim Il Sung on the first page of its history, has made a clear contribution to socialist construction and the improvement of the people's living standard by systematically increasing trade activities and consumer goods production under the leadership of the Party and the leader.

The message said that the trade bureau successfully carried out the policy tasks decided by the Eighth Congress of the WPK by its own efforts and made a positive contribution both materially and morally to the implementation of the policies of the Party and the government for the rejuvenation of the economy and culture.

The C.C., the WPK highly appreciated the noble loyalty and patriotism of the officials and employees of the trade bureau who are always sharing the intention and will with the Party and firmly supporting the cause of building a powerful socialist country with unshakable practice.

Song Yong Song, director of the trade bureau, made a report to be followed by speeches.

The reporter and speakers called for making more dynamic steps of loyalty and patriotism with the 50th founding anniversary as a turning point in the development of the unit and steadily achieving better successes in supporting the Party, the revolution, the country and the people, thus glorifying this year with proud successes. -0-