China Radio International (CRI), China's only radio station running a world service, said on Thursday it will launch an FM radio station in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday.

The FM radio station, CRI's first outside of China, will provide 19 hours of CRI programs a day in English, Swahili and Chinese to two million listeners.

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 on-air.

"The launch of the station signifies a major step to consolidate and strengthen the great friendship between the governments and people of China and Kenya," said Tian Jin, deputy director of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

It will provide the Kenyan people with quicker and easier access to the latest developments in China and the rest of the world, Tian said in his congratulatory message to CRI.

Wang Gengnian, CRI's president, said he hopes the station will help the Kenyan people have a better understanding of China and boost the friendship between the two countries.

Started in 1941, CRI now offers 1,035 hours of radio programming a day in 38 foreign languages and four Chinese dialects.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)