Xi Jinping tells Prince William his dream is for China to be a footballing nation

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Xi Jinping tells Prince William his dream is for China to be a footballing nation

President Xi Jinping and Prince William find common ground through interest in soccer

PUBLISHED : Monday, 02 March, 2015, 1:19pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 03 March, 2015, 1:23am

Mimi Lau in Guangzhou [email protected]



Prince William (left) is welcomed today by President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Can China hope to turn the nation's soccer team into winners - with help from Britain's strength in the sport?

That's the wish President Xi Jinping , who has been a passionate fan of the sport since childhood, expressed to Britain's Prince William yesterday morning in the capital.



Xi Jinping, then China's vice-president, kicks a football during a 2012 visit to Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Photo: Reuters

After welcoming the prince to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi told the Duke of Cambridge - an avid supporter of English Premier League side Aston Villa - that he hoped to learn from traditionally strong soccer nations, such as Britain, China National Radio reported.

There had been many positive initiatives to help expand Sino-British soccer ties since the Chinese Super League and the English Premier League signed a letter of intent, Xi was quoted as saying in the report.

William said he understood Xi was a keen soccer fan and hoped to see more Chinese footballers playing in the Premier League.



Britain's Prince William (left) meets with Chinese children and physically handicapped young people while he visits the Shijia Hutong in Beijing. Photo: AP

Xi has made repeated calls for China to improve soccer education among children to help raise playing standards in the most watched sport in China.

In 2011, Xi expressed three hopes for the sport - for China to qualify for another World Cup, for the country to host a World Cup and for it to win a World Cup.

The president and the prince discussed ways to improve collaboration in sport and on other cultural fronts, while William said he hoped to see China become a world leader in wildlife conservation.

The prince also presented Xi with an invitation from Queen Elizabeth for him to visit Britain this year. Xi said he looked forward to meeting the queen.

"The British royal family has great influence, not just in Britain but across the world," Xi said.

Watch: Prince William visits the Forbidden City on first China trip

William went to Shanghai last night and opened an exhibition showcasing British innovation in entertainment, design, health care and fashion.

He met Chinese business leaders, including Jack Ma, the English teacher-turned-founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba.

He is the first senior member of Britain's royal family to visit mainland China since Queen Elizabeth made a trip in 1986.

Additional reporting by Associated Press





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