(Nanning, Guangxi, China) Guangxi People’s Radio and China Radio International today launched a new radio service - Beibu Bay Radio - “Voice of Guangxi Beibu Gulf”. The station broadcasts on a network of 15 FM frequencies and 2 short wave transmitters across Southern China from studios in Nanning, Guangxi province. The station will be on the air from 0700-2400 daily (2300-1600 GMT), in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Thai and English.

There are DX opportunities to hear the station on 5050 KHz and 9820KHz.and on the web at www.bbrmedia.com. The main English Language programme, called The Hot Pot Show (This a Chinese form of eating, not a reference to the Golden Triangle in South East Asia), is from 1600-1800 local time (0800-1000 GMT).

At the opening ceremony, attended by the consoles of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, the wish was expressed that the station will be able to give china’s angle on events and trade in the area.

The launch of the station coincides with the 6th China-ASEAN Expo being held in the city and is also in preparation for the January 1st 2010 removal of trade tariffs between the 11 countries to form the biggest free trade area in the world. China is attempting to bolster cooperation as well as projecting a more favourable image abroad.