Speaking at the lighting ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua hoped for the further development of China-Japan relations.

He said that the lighting of Chinese red not only expresses sincere greetings from the Chinese residents in Japan to their fellow people in China, but also conveys Japanese people's festival greetings and good wishes to the Chinese people.

It also means China-Japan relations will make further progress and gain new developments in the new year, the ambassador said.

More than 500 hundred children from both China and Japan set off balloons at the ceremony, while activities such as traditional lantern show and lion dancing performance brought a festive atmosphere to the Tokyo Tower.