The venture is part of Beijing's effort to "present an international vision with a Chinese perspective," Xinhua President Li Congjun said at the press conference announcing the launch of CNC World.
On 9 March 2012, the 53rd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a coalition of human rights and Tibetan activist groups calling for Dhondup Wangchen's release held a rally in New York City's Times Square; excerpts from Leaving Fear Behind were shown there on a twelve-foot video screen beneath the Xinhua Jumbotron.
The purpose of Newsy.com is to compare how multiple news outlets from around the world (e.g. The New York Times, France 24, NDTV, Xinhua, Fox News Channel, The Guardian, and CNET.com) cover the day's events for people who want to stay up to date, but don't have the time to seek out multiple sources on their own.
Compared to its private competitors, the Chinese Baidu and the US-based Google, which are used more frequently in China, the two shareholders of this joint venture are the state-owned Chinese news agency Xinhua and the in 2011 worldwide largest mobile telecommunication provider China Mobile.
UNB has news exchange agreements with other major news agencies and networks, such as Associated Press, UNI, Xinhua, Kyodo, ANSA, Suomen Tietotoimisto and Rompress.
In November 2005, Xinhua News Agency opened a new office building alongside the Nile River in Cairo's Maadi district.