The UK and Chinese governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will see the two countries forming “significant ties” to develop football in China.

Plans under the Tomorrow’s Star programme – signed at an event in London last week – include establishing youth football training camps, exchange programmes for young footballers and coach and referee training.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “Today’s meetings with China show the wide range of opportunities for UK-Chinese cooperation. I’m delighted that we have been able to find so much common ground through sport.

“These collaborations will enrich our cultures and pave the way for stronger economic growth and trade. I look forward to working closely with China during the rest of this exciting year of UK-China Cultural Exchange.”

Football has increased its profile in China in recent years and is threatening basketball’s status as the country’s most popular team sport.

In 2011, the Chinese Super League overtook the Japanese J-league – seen as Asia’s leading professional football league – in terms of average attendance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, a self-proclaimed football fan, has also increased state funding for football, leading to improved facilities and an increase in football programmes at schools.

Last month, German sports equipment and clothing giant Adidas agreed a partnership deal with the Chinese government to support football development in 20,000 schools across the country.

The three-year deal will see Adidas devise a nationwide football programme and train up 50,000 teachers to help grow the game of football at grassroots level.

Click here for more information on the UK/China agreement.

Background to trade talks

• The UK delegation – which included Whittingdale, sports minister Tracey Crouch and culture minister Ed Vaizey – met with their Chinese counterparts under a set of meetings called the People to People Dialogue (P2P).

The P2P was co-chaired by vice premier Liu Yandong for China and secretary of state for health Jeremy Hunt for the UK. The first P2P Dialogue was hosted by the UK in 2012, and the second took place in Beijing in 2014.

As well as sport, cooperation deals were agreed across tourism, fashion and libraries.