URUMQI, June 13 -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has called for continued efforts to strengthen football training for young people and highlighted the need to enhance cultural relic and heritage protection and utilization.

Shen made the remarks during a research tour from Monday to Wednesday on football development and cultural heritage protection work in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

After learning about football training programs in schools and training bases in the region, Shen stressed the need to promote football on campuses and improve the system of youth football training to cultivate more well-developed football players.

She underscored the importance of promoting communication and exchanges among students from various ethnic groups through sports to foster a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation.

Shen also stressed the need to coordinate the protection of cultural relics, integrate culture and tourism, develop signature tourism, and make tourism an important source of employment and income growth.