CRI is the international radio arm of the China Media Group, under the control of the Central Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party, created following the first session of the 13th National People's Congress in March 2018.

CRI claims to "play a significant role in the PRC's soft power strategy" and Go Out policy, aiming to expand the influence of Chinese culture and media in a global stage.

[3] Unlike other broadcasters, CRI's control via indirect majority ownership or financial support of radio stations in various nations is not publicly disclosed.

[citation needed] The Chinese Communist Party first used radio in Yanan Shaanxi Province in March 1940 with a transmitter imported from Moscow.

[citation needed] The English service started on September 11, 1947, transmitting as XNCR from a cave in Shahe in the Taihang Mountains,[8] when China was in the midst of a civil war, to announce newly conquered areas and broadcast a Chinese political and cultural perspective to the world at large.

[3] According to a 2023 discourse analysis by the Central European Digital Media Observatory, CRI's content steers clear of any criticism of the Chinese government.

[citation needed] Popular Shows The following programmes can be heard on the Mandarin version of the podcast from the World Radio Network: This broadcast was originally targeted at London in the United Kingdom.

Hello London"[15] The CRI English channels that can be heard online are: CRI offers a list of podcast programs in English: During major Chinese holidays (dubbed Golden Week), such as Chinese New Year, May Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival, China Radio International typically broadcasts special programmes such as: Most of these programmes are not typical of the broadcast during the other parts of the year.

James Su is president and CEO of G&E Studio, which distributes CRI content to more than a dozen radio stations inside the United States.