The channel will broadcast news, features and lifestyle shows

Officials said CNC World would present "an international vision with a China perspective".

The launch is being seen as an attempt by China to develop its influence abroad and counter foreign media views.

Beijing keeps close control over media in the country - it often accuses Western media of bias and of reporting only negative news stories from China.

CNC - China Xinhua News Network Corporation - said it would offer "a better view of China to its international audiences" and enable "more voices to be heard by the rest of the world".

"It will broadcast news reports in a timely way and objectively, and be a new source of information for global audiences," said Xinhua's President Li Congjun at a launch ceremony in Beijing.

He said the launch was an "integral part" of Xinhua's efforts to adapt to the "rapid growth of new media".

Wu Jincai, controller of CNC World, told the BBC's Chinese service: "China is a big country hoping for peaceful development, and if we have the ability to do this, we should do it."

He said the channel was initially broadcasting in Hong Kong but aims to reach 50 million viewers in Europe, North America and Africa within its first year.

Mr Wu insisted that the coverage would remain objective, saying: "We are a news channel, not a propaganda station."

Global reach

Xinhua is already the largest of China's three state media organisations, alongside the flagship Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, and broadcaster CCTV.

Beijing has been pouring millions of dollars into the broadcasters in an attempt to promote its own messages about China to the wider world.

Last July, CCTV began broadcasting in Arabic to some 300 million potential viewers in 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

The channel was already broadcasting in English, French and Spanish as well as Chinese.

All the media outlets, as well as smaller independent news organisations, are closely controlled by Beijing, either directly or through self-censorship to avoid being shut down. They routinely face restrictions on what stories they can report.

China frequently complains that foreign news organisations present a biased or unfair view of news from the country, focusing on negative stories and ignoring positive developments.

BBC