What the Mainland Media Say | Xi Jinping plays up football passion for political advantage at home and abroad
'The beautiful game' that president graces with his presence in Manchester helps him connect with people at home and abroad
President Xi Jinping is known for his passion for football. But he is also a good player in the fields of "soccer diplomacy" and "soccer politics", as shown by his just-concluded state visit to Britain, the birthplace of modern soccer.
On Friday in Manchester - the cradle of two world-class Premier League football clubs and the last stop of his four-day trip, Xi once again showed off the diplomatic skills that had attracted much attention before.
In the past week, major mainland media outlets had chronicled Xi's "soccer diplomacy activities". Published pictures included him kicking a ball in Ireland, receiving a Bayer 04 Leverkusen uniform at a German pharmaceutical firm and chatting with former Dutch national player Edwin van der Sar - also the legendary goalkeeper for Manchester United - at a banquet hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander.
Xi played football in junior high. But apparently, his desire for the sport goes beyond personal fondness. Having presented himself time and again as a fan and keen supporter of promoting the sport in China, Xi has subtly brought the nation into the global network of soccer diplomacy.
READ MORE: China’s soccer-mad President Xi Jinping’s passion for ‘the beautiful game’ sparked while a child
The efforts are also designed to showcase the softer side of the often tough communist leader in the eyes of the public.