France cements Chinese link-up

The French Professional League and French Football Federation have opened their first office in Beijing, pledging to enhance ties with China on the soccer pitch.

"We know President Xi Jinping has great hope for Chinese soccer and China is making a great effort to make progress in the sport," France's sports minister Patrick Kanner said at a Beijing media conference last week.

"It is a crucial step for us to open an office in Beijing to contribute to the growth of the sport in this country."