(File photo)

At the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chinese art troupe will leave for North Korea 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 April Spring Friendship Art Festival, founded in 1982, is a major international cultural exchange event hosted by North Korea. Chinese art troupes have been invited many times and have played an important part in promoting cultural exchanges and in fostering understanding and relations between the two countries. 

This visit, which takes place shortly after the historic meeting between General Secretary Xi Jinping and DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un, is a major cultural exchange activity which embodies the consensus reached by the two leaders. The troupe will be led by Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, which shows the importance of inter-party exchanges in the political sphere. 

North Korea welcomes the visit.  According to the news pre-announced by the Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, after the two leaders reached a consensus on strengthening cultural communication, the art troupe’s first trip to North Korea will exert a powerful and vital role in further enhancing North Korea-China cultural ties and friendships on a whole new stage. 

During their visit, the National Ballet of China will perform classic ballets Red Detachment of Women and Giselle. 

Red Detachment of Women stands as a monument etched in the history of Chinese ballet via its elegant fusion of the quintessence of Western ballet and Chinese dance, showcasing spirited and valiant women soldiers.

On the other hand, the unqualified triumph of Giselle features eye-catching music and dance. 

The ballet troupe will all make their debut in North Korea, including ballet chief Zhang Jian and an array of other highly-praised ballerinas. 

The art troupe will perform at the closing ceremony of the festival.