President Xi meets FIFA chief amid 2030 World Cup bid speculation

China is cultivating a "soccer culture" and striving to improve its soccer level through comprehensive reforms, Chinese President Xi Jinping told President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino, adding that the country and the world soccer governing body share a broad prospect for cooperation.

Xi met Infantino in Beijing on Wednesday amid speculation that China may launch a bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of soccer and is determined to build a strong nation in sports, Xi said, admitting that the gap between China and global soccer powers is still "very big."

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 14, 2017. /Chinanews.com

He told the FIFA president that China had been drafting an overall plan for soccer reform and development and advancing relevant reforms in recent years.

"We are cultivating a soccer culture in the whole society and deepening the reform of our soccer management system," Xi said.

China is working hard to foster the growth of young soccer talent, and upgrading soccer infrastructure across the country, in a bid to gradually raise the level of Chinese soccer through solid efforts, he stressed.

China's 2018 World Cup qualification hopes dim after drawing 2-2 with Syria on June 13, 2017. /VCG Photo

Xi said he appreciated Infantino's commitment to developing the sport and his close attention to Chinese soccer since becoming the FIFA president in February 2016.

China will support FIFA's work and is willing to make more contributions to the development of soccer globally, he stated.

"China and FIFA have a broad prospect for cooperation," Xi told the FIFA chief.

China is making huge efforts to popularize soccer among school students. /VCG Photo

Infantino said the development of Chinese soccer was immensely important for the sport in the world, hailing Xi's "strategic" and "insightful" vision on the reform and development of Chinese soccer.

China is a top priority in FIFA's development strategy for world soccer, and the organization is willing to work closely with China to promote the development of the sport in China and worldwide, he stressed.

Responding to a question on whether China will bid for the 2030 World Cup, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday that the country "certainly wants to seek greater cooperation with FIFA and other countries in this field (soccer), which will also help improve China's soccer skills."

Lu added that hosting the World Cup was a dream for many Chinese and hoped the day would "come soon."

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