A full-strength Chelsea squad will tour China next year as part of its long-term plans to forge links with the world's most populous nation.

The announcement culminates Chelsea's hosting of China's Olympic team over the past fortnight on a tour marred by a mass brawl in a match against Queens Park Rangers.

Chelsea's business affairs director Paul Smith said the Premier League champions were committed to helping China develop its football and would tour in the year Beijing hosts the Olympics.

"Team China have been excellent guests and we have really enjoyed their visit. We hope we have been hosts of a similar calibre because next year the process will be reversed," he was quoted as saying on the Chelsea website.

"As part of our commitment to developing football in China, Chelsea will be touring in China in 2008.

"We will be taking our first team and playing games on the mainland."

He added that while Chelsea wanted to forge links between the club and China, it would also aid development of the Chinese game.

"This is a long term project and Team China is a work in progress. Hopefully we are witnessing the development of the team day-by-day."

Chelsea are in partnership with the Chinese Football Association to train grassroots players, and also have their eye on the country's huge untapped market.

Last month, it signed an agreement with top Chinese Internet portal Sina.com to become the first premiership club to set up a website in Chinese run from China.

Chelsea's involvement in Asia is part of chief executive Peter Kenyon's plan launched in 2004 to make his club the world's more recognizable brand in football within 10 years.

It started with a huge shirt sponsorship deal with South Korean conglomerate Samsung in 2005.

China manager Li Xiaoguang said his side had learned a lot from its time with Chelsea.

"As we all know, the United Kingdom is the home of the modern football game," he said.

"As we have had the chance to train in Chelsea Football Club, our players have had the chance to broaden their horizons and improve their levels.

"We have laid a wonderful foundation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."

China's team has spent the past two weeks based at Chelsea's training headquarters but their tour was overshadowed by a brawl involving more than 30 players and members of the coaching staff from both their side and QPR.

Seven Chinese players were sent home with the China Football Association vowing "strict" punishment.

The rest of the team flies home later this week.

(China Daily via AFP February 14, 2007)