London's Mayor Ken Livingstone (C) is joined by Chelsea's Frank Lampard (L) and Shanghai's Wang Dalei from the world of football to turn on the huge Chinese lanterns at Oxford Circus to mark the launch of "China in London," a month long celebration of Chinese culture in the capital.   Feb.16 - London Mayor Ken Livingstone launched a campaign of celebrations to coincide with Lunar New Year, his latest effort to build stronger economic and cultural links with China, AFP reported.

 

China in London 2007, which runs throughout February and March, opened with a blaze of red Chinese lanterns being switched on above Oxford Circus, in the heart of the capital's busy shopping area.

 

Guests of honour included the Chinese Olympic football team, whose friendly match with Queen's Park Rangers last week descended into a mass brawl which left one player with a broken jaw.

 

England footballer Frank Lampard -- whose club side Chelsea recently launched an official website in Mandarin -- also appeared.

 

On Sunday, London will host a free Lunar New Year festival and parade which could attract up to 200,000 people -- the biggest outside Asia -- before weeks of Chinese-themed exhibitions, performances and films.

 

But underpinning the celebration of cultural links are strengthening economic ties between the British capital and China.