China Central Television (CCTV), a national TV station, will open a channel broadcast in the Russian language on Sept. 10, bringing its foreign language channels total to five.

According to a statement issued by CCTV on Thursday, the Russian channel is expected to serve a potential 300-million audience in the 12 nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.

Audience in other countries will be able to watch it through the CCTV website, the statement said.

The channel will provide news, entertainment and programs to introduce China, Chinese culture and language round the clock, it said.

CCTV said it hopes the channel will help improve understanding between Chinese and people in Russian-spoken countries, the statement said.

CCTV currently broadcasts channels in the English, French, Spanish and Arabic languages.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2009)