Grassroots soccer fever fuels tourism, consumption in northeast China

China's first regional urban soccer league -- the Northeast Super -- kicked off simultaneously in four cities in northeast China on Saturday, with the opening ceremony held in Shenyang, the provincial capital city of Liaoning.

The grassroots soccer league, an eight-team amateur competition spanning the three northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, plus the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, opened simultaneously in Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin and Hohhot, the capitals of the four provinces.

The combined onsite attendance across the four venues exceeded 100,000, with all tickets selling out days before kickoff.

Referees are being assisted by video technology to ensure fair play in all the matches.

The event aims to link sports, culture and tourism in northeast China. Large viewing sites have been set up for fans. Organizers say the competition is driving local spending and helping to boost the economy.

Grassroots soccer fever fuels tourism, consumption in northeast China

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations.

Senior Chinese legislator meets European Parliament delegation