BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The radio Confucius institute of China Radio International (CRI) has established 12 overseas classrooms on air, according to a conference to mark the institute's fifth anniversary.

Overseas classrooms have been set up in countries including Kenya, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Italy, CRI's director-general Wang Gengnian said Friday.

Wang said the radio institute has developed teaching material in plural languages, and set up multi-terminal platforms to teach Chinese, including broadcasting, online programs and Internet Protocol Television.

"The radio Confucius institute aims at extending traditional Chinese culture and modern civilization, with great efforts to bridge China and the world," Wang added.

The institute was jointly established by CRI and the state-run Confucius Institute in December 2007.