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China and Germany have scored a significant goal during talks in Berlin.

They have signed a comprehensive agreement on football. It’s just one of the ways it hopes to foster deeper relations on several fronts.

CCTV’s Guy Henderson reports from Berlin.

Follow Guy Henderson on Twitter @guyhendersonde

China, Germany sign comprehensive agreement on football cooperation China and Germany have scored a significant goal during talks in Berlin.They have signed a comprehensive agreement on football. It’s just one of the ways it hopes to foster deeper relations on several fronts. CCTV’s Guy Henderson reports from Berlin.

Football associations of both countries have signed a five-year deal that’ll see Germany players, coaches and referees provide guidance to their Chinese counterparts.

China is making a big investment in European football, part of a bid to become a global sporting superpower.

Recently, Italy has been a prime target for Chinese investors. Earlier this year, they bought majority stakes in both AC and Inter Milan. And in October, World Cup and Champions League winning coach Marcello Lippi became manager of the Chinese national football team.

Though the Sino-German link is likely to be more about talent acquisition than buying clubs, which you can’t do in Germany.

The focus of the vice premier’s visit, so far, has been warning Europe against protectionist trade policies.

Perhaps sport could be fertile ground for keeping free trade in play.