Local Chinese welcome the upcoming Olympic torch relay at Chinese Gate, the start of the relay in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok is the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland. (Xinhua)

BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The torch relay for the Beijing Olympic Games started at 3:20 p.m. (0820GMT) Saturday in the China Town area in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, after a launching ceremony at the ceremonial gateway "Chinese Gate."

After kindling the Olympic Torch with the Olympic Flame stored in a special lantern which has traveled 11 cities around the globe, Jiang Xiaoyu, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG) handed the torch to Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jiuhuan, who passed on to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin.

Aprirak then handed the torch to the first torch bearer, Anant Siripasraporn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), who started running to kick off the first ever Olympic torch relay in his home city, amid a cheering crowd and followers.

Jiang Xiaoyu (L), executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, hands the torch to Zhang Jiuheng, Chinese ambassador to Thailand, during the Thai leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Bangkok on April 19, 2008.  Bangkok leg, the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland, concluded successfully Saturday.

A torchbearer runs with the torch for the Beijijing Olympic Games in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok leg, the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland, concluded successfully Saturday.

Chinese nationals in Thailand and local residents cheer as a torchbearer (not in picture) runs with the torch for the Beijijing Olympic Games in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 19, 2008. Bangkok leg, the 12th stop of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland, concluded successfully Saturday.

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