NEW IMAGE RELEASE: China's national publicity film makes its debut in New York's Time Square on January 17 (CHEN WEN)

China's official national publicity film recently had its first screening in the United States, just one day ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit, which is scheduled to begin on January 18.

The 60-second film, featuring Chinese celebrities such as NBA star Yao Ming and China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, began screenings in New York City's Times Square on January 17. The film will be shown once every four minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily until February 14. A 30-second version of the film is expected to air on CNN in the following month as well.

The film is one of two official publicity films commissioned last July by China's State Council Information Office (SCIO). The second film is still in production and will present a real version of China, according to the SCIO.

Wang Zhongwei, the office's deputy director, said that the films will also be shown in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East in the future.

(Reporting from New York)