For over a year, members of MNL48 have been on a path to introduce the concept of a Japanese idol to Filipinos, adamantly saying that their type of cutesy music will be loved by many someday.

And in their continuing efforts to prove their worth, the group have accepted an invitation to perform in China this August as part of a music festival organized by their official sister group, Japan's AKB48.

A total of eight members of MNL48 will be flying to Shanghai for the AKB48 Group Asia Festival 2019, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center on August 24.

One of those is MNL48 Belle, who was selected to represent the group through an audition process staged back in March -- before the results of their second general election were determined.

"I will do my best not to waste the opportunity to represent MNL48 and the Philippines," Belle said.

The others are Sheki, Abby, Brei, Rans, Coleen, Sela, and Kay.

They will join AKB48 themselves, AKB48's Team SH and Team TP, and their other international sister groups based in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This is the second time MNL48 will be performing abroad, with the first being in the AKB48 Asia Festival in Bangkok last January.