German soccer club kicks off operations in Shanghai

FC Bayern Munich, Germany's top soccer club, opened an office in Shanghai on Wednesday to help China improve its training system for junior players as the nation works toward its goal of becoming a global power in the sport by 2050.

"It's the right time to come to China, and we must come to China amid the trend of globalization," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's chairman.

More world-class players are in Chinese soccer clubs, but developing a sustainable, internal capacity that can consistently cultivate junior players is the key to making the nation a powerhouse, he said.