Zhang, who is vice-director of the Cultural Department of Gansu Province, said:

Kim Jong Il watched our performance though he was pressed for time and highly appreciated it.

Our art group was honored to perform before Kim Jong Il.

We were deeply moved by his personality as a great man.

We feel pleased about our performances in the DPRK.

The artistes of the Gansu Provincial Song and Dance Theatre of China gave a performance before President Kim Il Sung 30 years ago.

China and Korea are friendly neighbors linked by the same rivers and mountains.

The bilateral friendship forged by the leaders of the elder generation of the two countries is developing day by day.

We will make positive efforts to contribute to the development of this friendship.

We hope that the Korean people will achieve bigger successes under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.