China to deepen football cooperation with Germany

　　Chinese President Xi Jinping chats with youth players from Zhidan in China's Shaanxi province in Berlin, March 29, 2014. (Photo/Xinhua)

　　China and Germany are poised to launch a top-down cooperation on football following Vice Premier Liu Yandong's visit to the European country.

　　Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong is in Germany for the Hamburg Summit 2016: China Meets Europe as well as other activities and people-to-people exchanges.

　　The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that China and Germany have been advancing bilateral relations in recent years by deepening mutual political trust, improving practical cooperation in various sectors and enriching all-round strategic partnership. The statement also said that Liu would promote in-depth cooperation on football between the two nations.

　　German media Sport1 reported earlier that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would facilitate a more deepened cooperation between the Bundesliga and China.

　　During the past G20 Summit held in China, senior leaders from both China and Germany held in-depth discussions on developing football in China. Merkel shared with Chinese President Xi Jinping much experience on how Germany had successfully developed football.

　　Along with Vice Premier Liu, some officials from the Chinese Football Association as well as Chinese footballer Shao Jiayi, who once served in Bundesliga, will also visit Germany to promote football-based cooperation at all levels, with a priority on youth training and campus football. The football clubs from the two countries will also enhance exchanges.

　　It's expected that this cooperation will be long-term and will mark a development path for Chinese football in the decade to come.