German football coach Klaus Pabst instructs students from Suqian city, Jiangsu, May 10. [Photo/jse.edu.cn]

China and Germany's cooperation in youth football, most recently seen at a training session offered May 10 by German coach Klaus Pabst for physical education teachers from Suqian city, Jiangsu province, is bringing both nations tangible benefits. 

Calling himself an "old friend" of Jiangsu, Pabst started his exchanges with the East China province in 2017. This recent session was the second time the German coach had shared training techniques and concepts with his Chinese counterparts. 

Together with physical trainer Alexander Kuhnert and sports psychology lecturer Andre Kasiske, the German squad gave practical instructions to local football coaches and PE teachers, informing them about various tactical, physical and mental training techniques. 

Pabst also visited Wuxi in southern Jiangsu, giving a lecture and live demonstration to the city's teachers and coaches that included his thoughts on how to increase the interest and motivation of young footballers. 

The forging of close ties with international football unions has played a pivotal role in Jiangsu's plan for a revitalized football community. Additional exchanges have been conducted with Brazil, the United Kingdom, France and Belgium in recent years. 

Jiangsu was listed as a national pilot area for football reform May 18. Days later at the provincial youth football promotion conference, Zhu Weiguo, deputy director-general of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, explained Jiangsu's intentions and its determination to advance its youth football facilities. 

The province established a five-year youth football development plan which went into effect in 2016 and included such steps as the establishment of football-featured schools, the naming of pilot cities and districts, and the staging of various inter-campus, -county, -city and -province football competitions, and international invitationals.

Jiangsu teachers practice under German coach Klaus Pabst's guidance. [Photo/jse.edu.cn]