An animated English-language video and song has been produced by China

An animated English-language video and song has been produced by China's propaganda department to promote the nation's next five-year economic and social plan. Photo: Xinhua“Hey, have you guys heard what’s going on in China? President Xi Jinping’s new style? Yes and there’s more …”

China’s propaganda machine is trying a new tack this week to publicise its economic and social plans by using an animated hipster pop music video – complete with a guitar-strummed song performed in American accents by four cartoon characters as they stand on top of a retro Volkswagen van.

The aim of the video, produced by a mainland animation studio that often works on state propaganda, is to tell English-speaking foreigners about the nation’s latest five-year social and economic plan that is being discussed behind closed doors by the Communist Party this week.

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“Every five years in China, man. They make a new development plan. The time has come for number 13, shi-san-wu [13-5], that’s what it means! ...

“Wanna know what China’s gonna do? Best pay attention to the shi-san-wu!”

The animated character (left) in the Chinese propaganda video bears a striking similarity to singer David Bowie's Aladdin Sane persona (right). Photos: Xinhua, SCMP Pictures

The video features one of the four cartoon characters with a lightning bolt across his face, just like singer David Bowie's Aladdin Sane persona, plus a cameo appearance by scientist Albert Einstein.

It was promoted by state media on Xinhua News’s Twitter on Tuesday, but can also be found on major video websites, too.