Jiangsu sports delegation visits LALIGA to strengthen cooperation in football development between China and Spain

A delegation composed of representatives from various sports institutions in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, including the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Sport, Jiangsu Provincial Football Training Base, Jiangsu Sports Industry Group, Jiangsu Sports Marketing and the Jiangsu Football Association, visited LALIGA headquarters in Madrid for an institutional meeting aimed at deepening understanding between the two football ecosystems.

The delegation was received at the LALIGA offices by Jorge de la Vega, Executive General Director, who welcomed the group and highlighted the importance of ties with China in the organisation's international strategy. During the meeting, which was attended by representatives from the International, International Relations, LALIGA Business School and Football Projects departments, both parties explored different areas of collaboration, exchanged perspectives on the sports industry and analysed areas where mutual learning could have a significant impact.

During the meeting, Chen Shaojun, director of the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Sport, presented the province's experience in developing amateur football, where the local league, popularly known as Suchao, has established itself as a cultural phenomenon that mobilises thousands of fans. It is a community-based league that fosters identity and a sense of belonging to football in the city and community. This model encourages participation in sport from an early age, strengthens the sense of community around football and promotes healthy competition that complements the growth of professional football in China.

LALIGA highly valued this example of sustainable development from the grassroots level, and both parties agreed that the combination of experiences could be particularly beneficial for the evolution of football in both countries.

"It is an honour to welcome in LALIGA this delegation from Jiangsu, a key region for the development of sport in China. This relationship is of the utmost importance for LALIGA: we share a common vision: to promote the growth of football from the grassroots level and build bridges for international collaboration. We are convinced that this meeting opens up new opportunities to better understand the growth of football in China," said Sergi Torrents, director of LALIGA China.

A strategic link with China

LALIGA has a long-standing and structural relationship with China, consolidated through strategic agreements such as its collaboration with the CFL (Chinese Football League) and the CFA (Chinese Football Association). These alliances promote initiatives for professionalisation, training and talent development, as well as projects that open up new opportunities within the Chinese football ecosystem.

LALIGA's commitment to youth football in China is equally strong. Among its main initiatives are the LALIGA Academy Shanghai, which has become a benchmark for methodology and sports education, and the organisation of industry meetings to promote dialogue and cooperation, such as the recent III LALIGA Extratime, held on 5 December, which focused on the future of football and China-Spain synergies.