Beijing – The government in China is considering a proposal to invest US$6.5 billion in expanding the global reach of China Central Television, Xinhua news service and the People’s Daily. Reports say China’s Ministry of Finance is preparing to spend 45 billion yuan (US$6.5 billion) on the overseas expansion of its main media organizations in an aggressive global drive to improve the country’s image internationally. The three state media giants – Central China Television, Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Daily – could each get up to 15 billion yuan (US$2 billion) if they came up with “worthwhile projects” to enhance their global influence, a well-positioned source said. Even smaller operator China News Service could get 2 billion yuan (US$293 million). Xinhua is almost doubling the number of overseas bureaux from 100 to 186 and forming a Chinese version of CNN airing international news 24 hours a day. CCTV, which broadcasts across the world in Chinese, English, French and Spanish, plans to establish Arabic and Russian language channels.