AFP is teaming with Hupu Sports Media to launch a Chinese language sports service.

Agence France Presse will provide stories, photos, videos and graphics to Hupu for a dedicated website and mobile applications early next year.

Shanghai-based Hupu, a private company, has an existing website at www.hupu.com, pictured, which provides domestic and international sports news to its Chinese audience. It will combine a selection of AFP’s production with its own content for the project.

AFP chairman and chief executive Emmanuel Hoog says sport is more than 25 per cent of the agency’s text production and half its photo output, and they want to do more.

"Sports is one of the major sectors that we want to cover, and to improve the quality and quantity of our coverage," he says. "I'm very happy our production will be seen by more and more people in China.”

Hupu chief executive Shawn Cheng says the new service will be launched at the start of next year: "I look forward to bringing AFP's content to China in coming years. It will be good for both sides.”

The announcement follows the launch of AFP Sports, which offers products and services to media and sports professionals, and features a dedicated sports wire in French and interactive applications.