China Media Group and the Ministry of Education have jointly released the works of a Chinese Language "Reading Library for Primary and Middle Schools" to popularize Chinese Mandarin.

The audio texts were made by more than 70 top-level anchors and announcers and top-level technicians from China Media Group. The material is expected to benefit 150 million primary and middle school students and more than nine million teachers nationwide.

Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the head of China Media Group, and Chen Baosheng, Minister of Education, have jointly launched the first 100 audio texts for a reading library for primary and middle schools to popularize standard Chinese.

"If children from across the country could hear and learn the standard Mandarin, it will be helpful for popularizing the standard Mandarin. If people learned from a very young age, it will be easier for them to grasp the standard pronunciation of the Chinese language," said Fu Chengli, one of the readers of the audio texts.

"The whole set of works represents the top-level standard of Mandarin. The highest quality is ensured by the most authoritative experts with the highest standards of reading ability and the most rigorous checking procedures. As a member of the Audit Committee, I think reading aloud the texts in standard Chinese let us fully appreciate the vividness and appeal of Chinese language and culture," said Yao Xishuang, a professor from the Communication University of China.

The audio Chinese language teaching materials cover all Chinese texts for primary and middle schools, which are approved by the Ministry of Education. Officials said this move aims to cherish traditional Chinese culture, as well as allow students to hear and learn standard Chinese, and enjoy equal educational resources.

(Top image from CNR reporter Li Xuenan.)