WUHAN - Central China's Wuhan has launched its first English-language weekly newspaper in its latest move to make more media available for foreigners in the city, sources with the provincial government said Saturday.

The newspaper, Changjiang Weekly, published by the Yangtze Daily Newspaper Group, covers local political, economic, social and cultural news as well as the latest lifestyle information, according to the government's foreign affairs office.

The weekly, issued every Friday, will be provided free along with the Yangtze Daily to foreigners in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.

The publishing of the newspaper is part of a local government program that also includes printing a Chinese/English guide on living in Wuhan, and the establishment of Chinese and Japanese versions of the government's website.

Wuhan mayor Tang Liangzhi said he hopes Changjiang Weekly will become a reliable source of news for foreigners to better understand the city and a useful guide to aid their lives.

The newspapers will be available at locations including hotels and airport. Foreigners in Wuhan can also get free copies by sending their delivery addresses to changjiangweekly@hotmail.com.

Wuhan is home to about 6,000 foreign companies. The number of long-term foreign residents in Wuhan is estimated to have more than doubled to 11,000 from about 5,000 in 2006.