Senior Chinese official to lead art troupe to DPRK

A Chinese art troupe will leave for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday to attend the April Spring Friendship Art Festival.

The troupe will be led by Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The visit is at the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The DPRK's official Korea Central News Agency said the visit by the art troupe would strengthen friendly bilateral relations "onto a new high stage" following leader Kim Jong Un's "first historic visit to China".

"The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea will warmly welcome the artists of the friendly neighboring country and specially greet them," it said.

Song last visited the DPRK's capital, Pyongyang, in November to discuss the outcome of

the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)