A meeting between AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam and Liu Peng, head of China's State General Administration of Sports (CSGAS) has been confirmed by the CSGAS.

The meeting will discuss the development of football in China and how AFC, the Chinese Sports Authorities and the China Football Association can cooperate in accelerating the development of football.

The timing of the meeting is opportune as it takes place in Beijing on 24th April which is the day before the AFC/CFA Football Development Conference in Qingdao. The Qingdao Conference takes place under the Vision China programme and has the objective of expanding the programme to fifteen additional football cities.

Liu Peng has confirmed his availability for the meeting. The AFC delegation will be led by AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam, who will be accompanied by AFC General Secretary Dato Peter Velappan, AFC Deputy General Secretary Dato Paul Mony and senior AFC development staff.

Yang Li Guo, the General Secretary of China Student Sports Federation and CFA top Officials, led by its General Secretary, Xie Yalong, will also attend this meeting.

It is the first meeting between those four organizations sitting together to discuss the possibility of cooperating on football development and setting up a joint working committee to support Vision China and China's Football Development.

The AFC sincerely appreciates the initiatives and determination of the CSGAS, in promoting school football as part of the 11th National Five-Year Development Plan of China. The strategic directions of Vision China and expending project to others 15 cities will be also discussed at this meeting.

AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam commented on the eve of his departure to China: "I am very much looking forward to the meeting with Liu Peng and to working with him and his officials on developing football in China. I am also very pleased that the China Student Sports Federation will be involved in our discussions."

(the-afc.com via CRI English April 21, 2006)