A concert was held in Beijing Sunday evening to mark the launch of a music channel by China Central Television (CCTV).

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was among an audience of 1,000 entertained with classical and traditional music.

Li met some of the artists and staff of the new CCTV channel. He expressed his hope that the new channel will link artists and the masses.

Also present was Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The CCTV music channel, which is due to start Monday, will broadcast 18 hours a day.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2004)