Meanwhile, China Central Television (CCTV), which already broadcasts in English, Spanish and French started an Arabic channel airing in 22 countries last year.

This year, for the first time, the state-run Chinese Central Television has been holding a national Beijing opera student competition, with the finals to be televised in October.

As part of this push, the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua news agency will produce content in different languages for both western and Asian audiences.

Six days later, state broadcaster China Central Television aired an unusual pair of interviews with Li and his father.

She is from CCTV 9 which is China's English International Channel.