The Chinese Book Fair 2015 kicks off in London on October 19, 2015.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

The London China Book Festival (LCBF) opened on October 19, at London's oldest bookshop and Bookseller by Royal Appointment, Hatchards. With its timely beginning on the eve of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK, the book festival is hoped to bring greater understanding between cultures through books on politics, arts, economics, and through the bestselling book and show case item Xi Jinping: the Governance of China.

At the inaugural speech giving on October 19, Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office Mr Guo Weimin heralded the festival's significance by saying the LCBF will "help the British people better understand China and in the long term it can certainly help deepen the friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese and British people."

A significant understanding is required as what began as a year of Cultural Exchange between the UK and China has now been proclaimed as a "Golden Decade" between the two great countries.

The London China Book Festival will run until the October 29 at numerous bookstores including some of the largest and more famous stores in London such as Hatchards, Piccadilly; Waterstone's, Piccadilly; Harrods, Knightsbridge; and the British Museum, Fitzrovia.