China Radio International (CRI), China's only radio station
running a world service, officially launched its first overseas FM
radio station in Nairobi on Monday.
CRI 91.9 FM in Nairobi provides 19 hours of programming a day in
English, KiSwahili and Chinese to about two million listeners in
the capital of the East African nation.
The programs will cover China's economic, social and cultural
development, China's friendly exchanges with African countries, and
major events around the world. Listeners will also be able to enjoy
music from China, Africa and the rest of the world and take part in
programs.
Kenyan Minister for Information and Communications Mutahi Kagwe
said, "CRI will indeed open a window through which Kenyans can
listen to China's rich cultural heritage."
"I appreciate the vital role that China has played and continues
to play in the economic development of Kenya. I am convinced that
the launch of CRI in Nairobi will open up new possibilities of
exchanges as well as create synergy in our different fields of
social endeavour like culture, tourism and the media," Kagwe
said.
CRI Director-General Wang Gengnian said at the launching
ceremony that the FM radio service in Nairobi will help build a new
bridge of friendship to facilitate communication and co-operation
between the Chinese and Kenyan people.
"The new FM service in Nairobi is the first of its kind run by
CRI outside China. Our mission here is to promote mutual
understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Kenyan people,
as well as other African nations, by providing reports on China and
Kenya, Africa and the world," Wang said.
The director-general said that CRI will make great efforts to
provide the best programs to meet Kenyan listeners' needs, creating
a link to China and the world for the Kenyan audience.
"(Kenyan) President Mwai Kibaki's visit to China last August
further strengthened bilateral exchanges and co-operation in the
fields of politics, economy, culture, education and so on. The new
channel, 91.9 FM ... was designated as a joint co-operative program
of the two governments," Wang said.
Tian Jin, China's vice minister of the State Administration of
Radio, Film and Television, speaking in Beijing, commended the
launch of the station as a major step to consolidate and strengthen
the friendship between the governments and people of China and
Kenya.
The station will provide the Kenyan people with quicker and
easier access to the latest developments in China and the rest of
the world, Tian said.
China Radio International, formerly known as Radio Beijing, was
founded on December 3, 1941, with the aim of promoting
understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and other
countries.
(China Daily March 3, 2006)
