Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stressed the importance of DPRK-China friendship after he watched a Chinese folk legend opera, the DPRK's official daily Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday.

"It is the invariable will of the Workers' Party of Korea and the people to further consolidate and develop the DPRK-China friendship," Kim said after he enjoyed the opera "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," a classical folk legend from China.

Kim highly appreciated the successful performance and expressed his satisfaction with the splendid opera.

Kim said it was "very gratifying" that the Phibada Opera Troupe had completed another opera piece after its adaptation of "A Dream of Red Masions," a classical Chinese novel, with China's help.

Cultural exchange plays an important role in deepening understanding and developing friendly and cooperative relations among countries, he said.

The opera "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" is adapted from a famous Chinese folk legend that tells a tragic love story between the two main characters.