On September 17, 2009, Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with Dai Bingguo, Chinese state councilor and special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, in Pyongyang.

Kim asked Dai to convey his greetings to Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo, and offered congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Kim expressed his wish that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, will achieve greater accomplishments in the country's modernization drive.

Kim reiterated that it is the unshakable position of the Worker's Party of Korea and the DPRK government to consolidate and further promote the traditional DPRK-China friendship. He said the DPRK side would work with the Chinese side to push forward DPRK-China relations.

Dai conveyed Wu Bangguo's greetings, saying both sides are jointly celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the Year of China-DPRK Friendship. The Chinese government and the Chinese people treasured the friendship with the DPRK, and would strengthen the exchange and cooperation with the DPRK side to write together a new chapter of the friendship.

After the meeting, Dai and Kim watched the debut of the opera, "The Dream of the Red Chamber", along with the DPRK people from all walks of life. The opera, based on a Chinese classic, was staged first in the 1960s under the initiative and instruction of late DPRK president Kim Il Sung. The opera has been renovated and re-staged as a major event in the Year of China-DPRK Friendship. General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Il has given instructions about the opera on many occasions and has watched its rehearsal.