Visiting Vice-Premier Liu Yandong met on July 1 with Gianni Infantino, president of the world’s football governing body FIFA, on China’s football reform.

The vice-premier said football is largely popular among the Chinese people for its unique charm and charisma. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the role that football plays in its transformation into a sports power.

According to Liu, China’s football has developed in recent years, but there is still a rather large gap between its overall level and football power.

Liu said China is pursuing reforms of its football industry, deepening the reform of system and mechanism, stimulating vitality and dynamics for the development of football, expanding the school football system, and developing its football industry.

China will combine its national conditions and international experiences to find a new way of football reform and development with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) will actively support FIFA, and is willing to contribute to the global development of football.

She also hopes FIFA will provide assistance and guidance to China in its football reform.

For Infantino, football is not only a sport, but also a symbol of society, and it has special influences on a country, a society and even the whole world.

Infantino acknowledged the football reform the Chinese government is undertaking, which according to him, is not only favourable to the development of China’s football industry, but also crucial to the development of the world football industry.

Hoping China supports the reform of FIFA, Infantino said FIFA is willing to strengthen communication and expand the cooperation with the CFA in order to help and support the development and reform of China’s football industry.