Top leaders support soccer partnership

Xi and Merkel attend young people's match, an extension of a training camp

The presence of President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Wednesday youth soccer match featuring players from both countries indicates the leaders' commitment to strengthening their soccer partnership, according to a senior German soccer official. The match was held at Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

Friedrich Curtius, secretary-general of the German Football Association, said the exhibition match is part of a soccer camp organized by both nations in Berlin for Chinese youth players.