Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong had recently met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked about the world football official's support in China's ongoing football revolution that was initiated by the country's president himself, Xi Jinping.

The meeting took place last Friday in Paris during the vice premier's visit to the 2016 UEFA European Championship's host nation.

Like Us on Facebook

Xinhuanet reported that Liu told Infantino during the encounter that "football is largely popular among the Chinese people for its unique charm and charisma" and that the "Chinese government attaches great importance to the role that football plays in its transformation into a sports power".

The Chinese official then said that although China football has dramatically improved over the years, especially this year with the massive spending of Chinese Super League clubs to bring world-class talent to the nation, "there is still a rather large gap between its overall level and football power" as compared to the other top flight competitions from other countries around the world such as Spain, England, Italy, and France.

Liu emphasized China's focus on making reforms to the sport's potential commercial viability, streamlining the country's local system and mechanism, motivating the interest and vigor of Chinese clubs to develop football at the grassroots level, increasing football schools all over the country, and upgrading infrastructure and facilities.

The vice premier then said that she "hopes FIFA will provide assistance and guidance to China in its football reform" to which Infantino favorably answered.

Liu then assured Infantino that the Chinese Football Association (CFA) will "actively support" the world governing body of the sport and will also "contribute to the global development of football", as per CCTV English.

Infantino then remarked that for him "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".

The FIFA official also recognized China's endeavor to become a world football power and said that it will not only be beneficial for the Far East nation's own football industry but also essential "to the development of the world football industry".

TagsChina Football, China Football News, Liu Yandong, fifa, Gianni Infantino