CRI Director-General Wang Gengnian [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Dear listeners,

As the new year of 2010 has arrived, on behalf of all the workers at China Radio International and myself, I cordially send my best wishes and greetings to everyone of our listeners.

Happy New Year, may happiness and good health be with you always.

Three months ago, CRI thoroughly reported the magnificent 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square. At the same time, we were delighted to acknowledge that people from different countries also presented their most sincere blessings to the birthday of New China. Andreas Muecklich, one of our listeners from Germany, told us that "the whole world is astonished to find that, in the past six decades, China has risen to become one of the world's leading economies. We firmly believe this is a brand-new start. When I am listening to your radio program, I can clearly feel it and China is making progress." Indeed, his encouraging words were like that of an old friend and they represented the affection of countless CRI listners globally. We are proud of our country, but more importantly, we are also substantially moved by our respected listeners.

In 2009, China properly dealt with the global financial turmoil with a systemic structure and arrangement, resulting in stable and upward economic ratio, obvious achievement in the sectors of economy and society and successfully realized the 8 percent growth rate of the gross domestic product. Under the international spotlight, China gives out a brilliant contribution. But we need to expand to the global horizon as we approach center stage. In the offices of China Radio International, we have a motto of encouragement, Chinese Stance, Global View and Mankind's Aspiration.

In the past year, CRI constantly surpassed herself between variability and in-variability. Our principles, which never change, are to improve the understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people around the world. However, to change is to further satisfy the needs of listeners at faster pace. In 2009, we have 59 language services, including six new languages, turning CRI into the only media agency with the largest number of languages broadcasting to the world. We also built another 14 overseas 24-hour radio stations, and our production capabilities of localized programming has also been enhanced dramatically. In the present time of network, we are proactively embracing the new-media with the hope of intensifying the interaction with listeners. A series of campaigns, such as CRI Foreign Journalists' Interview Along China's Border, the Knowledge Contest for Global Listeners, Loving Russia--- Chinese People Sing Russian Songs and Nomination of Top Ten International Friends of China, showcase the multiple facets of CRI. The China-Turkey online program, Voices from Urumqi, introduced the truth about the situation of Urumqi city to the Turkish people, winning their praises. Progress also makes people delighted. We have altogether received a new record high of over 2.9 million letters from overseas listeners and online users.

My dear listeners, your support and care drive us forward; your needs and expectation power our innovation. As so many listeners establish pure and firm bonds with CRI, we will value your passion with more wonderful reports. On behalf of all of us at CRI, I would like to take this opportunity to express our most sincere appreciation to our listeners all over the world.

This New Year will be an utterly refreshing start. We will continue the course of improvements and innovation of our localized programming based upon your needs. I hope that you may continue to support China Radio International like you always do and build a better future with us.

Finally, please accept my heartfelt New Year greetings to you all. Thank you.