Warmly welcoming the ensemble's visit to China on behalf of the Central Military Commission of China, the vice-chairman called back the deep impression he had after appreciating the performance of the State Merited Chorus when he visited the DPRK in 2003.

He said that the ensemble's visit to China in the "year of Sino-DPRK friendship" marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the DPRK would contribute to developing the relations between the two countries and the two armies.

The relations between the armies of China and the DPRK are developing on good terms under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries, he said, stressing:

The Chinese party, government and army set store by the Sino-DPRK friendship provided by the leaders of the elder generation and will boost the relations between the two countries and the two armies together with the Korean comrades.

He wished the Korean comrades greater success in the building of a thriving nation.