China's official national news agency, Xinhua, launched its global, English-language television news network today.
It is seen as part of the government's effort to expand its foreign influence and it also results from official unhappiness with much of the international coverage of sensitive events in China, such as Tibet and human rights.
China Xinhua News Network Corp (CNC) began broadcasting its English TV service, CNC World, around the clock, including news segments, feature stories, weather updates and special bulletins in Asia, Europe, North America and Africa.
The network's president, Li Congjun, said: "CNC will present an international vision with a China perspective. It will broadcast news reports in a timely way and objectively and be a new source of information for global audiences."
CNC World will be broadcast internationally by satellite, cable, cell phone and the internet, and its US service will be available on cable networks beginning on 1 October.
Despite China's rapid economic growth and rising global influence, there has not been a freeing of the media in the country. China has retained its authoritarian one-party political system with strict limits on freedom of speech and civil and political life.
Source: AP
