China Radio International (CRI), China's major foreign language radio, held a ceremony Tuesday to mark the 40th anniversary of its Esperanto program.

As part of the ongoing 89th International Esperanto Conference, the ceremony, attended by approximately 50 representatives, awarded loyal listeners.

Former President of the Universal Esperanto Association (UEA) K.Enderby, UEA Vice President Lee Chong-Yeong, and CRI Deputy Director Xia Jixuan attended the ceremony.

As one of China's major media, Xia acknowledged. CRI broadcasts news about China and the world in 43 languages. Currently, CRI broadcasts a one-hour Esperanto program per day to Northeastern Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe and Albania.

The CRI Esperanto department set up and published a Esperanto website and magazine, which were enjoyed by a large audience worldwide with increasing influence, Xia said.

The 89th Universal Esperanto Congress, which started here on Sunday, has drawn about 2,000 academicians and Esperantists from more than 50 countries and regions worldwide.