China's footballer Wang Dalei and Chelsea's Frank Lampard kicked
off the month-long "China in London 2007" celebrations on Thursday
afternoon. Together with London Mayor Ken Livingstone, they
signaled the start of the festival by switching on the specially
designed Chinese lanterns in downtown London.
London's tourism authority Visiting London was invited for the
special occasion along with the visiting Chinese Olympic Football
Team to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Following the lantern lighting, "Shanghai Week" was launched to
celebrate the creativity and culture of Shanghai, London's sister
city. Shanghai Week features the Shanghai 360 degrees photo
exhibition at City Hall, with a collection of photographs using
panoramic techniques to depict the diversity and changes of
Shanghai.
The National Film Theater will also showcase over 15 classic
feature and short animation films produced at the Shanghai
Animation Studio.
London established representative offices in Shanghai and
Beijing last year to boost collaboration with China, particularly
on business travel and creative industry.
Mayor Livingstone said: "After the extraordinary success of
China in London 2006, I am delighted to host a new season of
events, exhibitions, film screenings, and performances around the
capital to celebrate all things Chinese. I am particularly looking
forward to this season's focus on Shanghai -- one of China's most
dynamic and rapidly growing cities."
London's annual Chinese New Year parade, which has developed
into the largest in scale outside Asia, attracted over 200,000
spectators last year. "China in London" is also regarded as the
largest celebration of the Chinese New Year outside of China.
James Bidwell, chief executive of Visit London, said: "The next
two years offer unparalleled opportunities to build closer ties
between China and London and to promote a mutual exchange of
creativity and cultural traditions. The second China in London
season demonstrates London has unrivaled content for both Londoners
and visitors to experience and enjoy!"
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)
