The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has signed a five-year collaboration agreement with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) yesterday at the QFA headquarters in Al Bidda Tower.
Vice Sports Minister of China and CFA acting president Du Zhaocai, CFA senior vice president Zhang Jian, CFA International Department director Roger Luo Zhao, and CFA International Department manager CJ Chen Jun met with QFA president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, Board member Hani Balan, secretary-general Mansoor al-Ansari, and Strategy and Institutional Development executive director Mushtaq al-Waeli for the contract ceremony.
The latest signing is another example of QFA’s attempt to strategically develop football in all regions of Asia and beyond. The new agreement also brings QFA and CFA closer as they look into ways and means to develop the world’s biggest sport.
It is expected that Qatar and China will have exchange programmes between the two countries in various age brackets to develop youth football. Qatar will also rely on the help from Aspire Academy and Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital to beef up their exchange programmes with CFA.
“I am very pleased to be in Qatar for this agreement. I would like to thank HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association, the QFA vice-president and the secretary-general for this warm welcome,” Zhaocai said after the signing ceremony.
“The signing of this co-operation agreement between the two football bodies is something that I look forward with great anticipation,” he said.
“The agreement will strengthen the co-operation in various fields related to football.
“We know the experience Qatar has in the field of developing the sport. Their training courses for players, officials, referees and coaches etc are hugely beneficial for the participants,” he added.
“There is no doubt that Qatar has become the leading sports centre in Asia. We are proud to be working with a body like the QFA. It is a professionally run sports body that works diligently to develop the sport in Qatar and around Asia.”
The CFA president said he was impressed by Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.