Football Diplomacy: China & Argentina continue to cooperate

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Now we head to Argentina, where, in Buenos Aires, Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a visit. The cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been on the rise between the two countries in recent years, and the interaction in football has been one of the pillars. Our reporter Zou Yun takes to the football field in Argentina and explores how the collaboration is happening.

It looks like a normal training day at the Club Atletico Banfield in a suburb of Buenos Aires. But look closer and you'll see a group of junior Chinese players.

One of them is Tong Feige. He's named after Luís Figo, one of the world's most prominent football stars. Tong's family and coaches hope he will one day become a top quality professional football player.

He only started training at Banfield about a month ago, but Tong Feige is already starting to feel a different way of teaching can help him improve.

TONG FEIGEJUNIOR FOOTBALL PLAYER "The biggest difference here is the coach didn't only teach you how to play football using my legs and my feet, they also teach me to use my mind and brain to win the match."

He's one of 28 young, promising players sent from China to Argentina, a nation with an unwavering passion for football.

They are here for 9 months of comprehensive training. They come from different parts of China, yet share the same clear goal, to become a professional football player.

LIANG BINCHINA FOOTBALL COLLEGE COACH "Training abroad can help coaches and players study the most advanced concepts and techniques in football. Our goal here is to help young players improve their performance and skills as much as possible."

This ongoing football program is part of the Chinese and Argentinian governments' efforts to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Banfield is one of the nation's leading football clubs with a specialty in cultivating junior football players, and it's willing to provide increased support to help Chinese players become more competitive on the global arena.

HUGO DONATOATLETICO BANFIELD YOUTH COACH "Banfield football club is pioneering in cooperating with Chinese football industries. This is also significant for the Argentine football sector. We feel honored in sharing our experiences in football training."

ZOU YUNBUENOS AIRES "So many people say that football is the heart and soul of Argentina. Sending young Chinese professionals here is not just about training to improve skills. It's also about sensing the passion and planting a seed that will one day grow and flourish. ZY, CGTN, Buenos Aires, Argentina."