The Central National Band of China gave a special concert at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on April 13. It took part in the opening ceremony of the Year of DPRK-China Friendship held in Pyongyang, which added another brilliant page to the history of the DPRK-China friendly relations.
  Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), enjoyed the concert on Saturday evening.
  Among the audience were secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK Jo Yong Won and Ri Il Hwan, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, International Department Director of the WPK Central Committee Kim Song Nam, Vice Department Director of the WPK Central Committee Kim Yo Jong, other officials of the WPK Central Committee and the Foreign Ministry and Pyongyang citizens.
  The performance was also enjoyed by Sun Yeli, minister of Culture and Tourism of the PRC, Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, Ming Wenjun, director of the Art Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, members of the diplomatic corps in the DPRK, including those of the Chinese embassy, and Chinese residents in the DPRK.
  The band is a national-level art troupe with a long history, renowned for having a large-scale national orchestra and China's one and only specialized national chorus.
  Put on the stage were colorful numbers depicting the struggle and patriotic spirit of the Chinese people who are pushing forward with the building of a modern socialist country with Chinese characteristics and the cause of national prosperity, including national orchestral music "National Traits", vocal and instrumental music "We Will Never Lose Our Original Intention" and national orchestral music and chorus "My Motherland".
  Mesmerizing the audience were original tone colors and playing skills displayed by performers in instrumental music "Butterfly Lovers" showing the traditional culture of the Chinese nation and pipha concerto "Sky-rocketing Happiness".
  The audience loudly applauded the performers who impressively sang such Korean songs as "I Love Pyongyang" and "Song of Big Hauls in the Sea".
  The chorus "DPRK-China Friendship Is Everlasting" beautifully decorated the end of the performance.
  A floral basket in the name of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was handed over to the performers.
  He mounted the stage, met leading artistes, warmly congratulated all the performers, who sang high praises of the ever-blooming DPRK-China friendship through their unique performance, and had a photo taken with them.