Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau coached a kids' basketball team in an exhibition game against another squad coached by former NBA star Yao Ming during his recent week-long trip in China.

The 44-year-old statesman started his visit in the mainland by meeting with the country's "most powerful men" in Beijing, which includes Chinese President Xi Jinping himself, as per the Toronto Star. He then addressed a crowd in a Thursday night speech in Shanghai regarding human rights promotion, freedom of expression, and good governance.

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But on Friday, Trudeau ditched his traditional suit and jacket and rolled his sleeves up to coach a group of young kids, appropriately dubbed as the Raptors, in playing basketball against a Yao Ming-led squad in a Shanghai high school.

"It's important to take a stand on issues that matter to you," Trudeau told hundreds of young people who watched the ballgame prior to the event. "It's important to step up and look for your voice to be able to have an impact in shaping the world around you, in shaping your community, in shaping your future."

CBC noted that the school where they played in have British Columbia-certified teachers that teach "all courses between grades 10 and 12 in English".

After the friendly match, Trudeau then went to a local eatery to try Montreal-styled smoked meat sandwiches, where he ran into a Montreal native and exchanged pleasantries.

Later that afternoon, he then made a keynote speech for an event by Canadian insurance company Manulife, where he also led several people in a short session of Tai Chi and yoga.

"I'm here in China this week to talk about all of the great partnerships that we're working on, and that are going to happen between Canada and China," he told the crowd during his message.

Trudeau capped his week in China with a meeting with Alibaba chief Jack Ma in Hangzhou on Saturday.

TagsChina sports, China sports news, China Sports 2016, Justin Trudeau, Yao Ming