Manchester City's Raheem Sterling in action. [Photo / Agencies]

SCREEN GREETING

The Chinese language greeting "Ni hao, Jinping!" is shining across London's Piccadilly Circus during President Xi Jinping's state visit. The electronic screen is one of the famous landmarks in London, and more than 2 million visitors will pass by every week, according to Louise Stubbings, sales director of the electronic board operating company Storm Digital United Kingdom.

"It has been 10 years since the last visit of China's president to the United Kingdom, it is an important symbol that the two countries have entered the 'golden era', we are eager to see president's visit to bring the bilateral relationship further," said Zhang Jinglong, president of the UK Chinese Business Association.

The screen was designed and sponsored by the association.

SOCCER

Although Manchester United enjoys huge support in China among soccer fans, President Xi Jinping will instead be taken on a visit to Manchester City, United's arch-rivals, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

It quoted The Sun on Sunday as saying that Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester City Council, and an ardent City fan, had lobbied for the switch. But at least there was a Chinese link.

England's National Football Museum told Xinhua News Agency that Sun Jihai, a Chinese soccer player who starred for City, will be inducted to the English Football Hall of Fame on Friday and will attend the ceremony.

Sun joined Manchester City in 2002, where he spent six seasons there, making 130 appearances. He became the first Chinese player to score a goal in English the Premier League.