In a landmark move aimed at fostering youth football talent and standardizing sports management practices, Shanghai has inked a strategic cooperation plan with the German Football Association and related football service companies.

The partnership, solidified through the establishment of an alliance between the Shanghai SME Cooperation and Exchange Center and the German Football Association on May 20, seeks to localize and integrate the proven sports management experience from Germany.

At the core of this collaboration is the Shanghai SME Cooperation and Exchange Center's ongoing efforts to champion the standardization of "Trustworthy Purchase Evaluation" across various sectors, including sports consumption. The comprehensive project aims to set consumer standards spanning the entire spectrum from product procurement to after-sales service, ensuring consumers access high-quality goods at fair prices while providing suppliers with stable sales channels.

The establishment of this alliance signifies the first international cooperation of the "Trustworthy Purchase" initiative. Through this partnership, the Shanghai SME Cooperation and Exchange Center will work closely with several German associations and companies to introduce best practice methods, such as referee and athlete training assessments, as well as German product technology standard certification.

Jurgen Klar, chairman of the Referees Committee of the German Football Association, expressed that the German side will fully assist Shanghai in building a youth football development system to cultivate talent for future international events.

He cited the example of German football culture driving sports consumption, emphasizing that an industry chain centered around football can create employment and promote cross-industry integration. He noted that while Shanghai's enthusiasm for football is high, there is still a gap in industry maturity compared to Germany, presenting an opportunity for cooperation between the two sides.

Reza Fazeli, chairman of the International Soccer Management Holding GmbH & Co, agreed on the immense development potential. He emphasized that cooperation is not simply about copying and pasting; the key lies in organically integrating German experience with Chinese local culture. Regarding youth training, Fazeli pointed out that the goal is not only to cultivate professional players but also to broaden the horizons of young people through tournament training and to hone their physical and mental qualities.

"This alliance breaks through national boundaries, using football as a link to connect cultural exchanges in surrounding regions and even countries," Fazeli said.

Xie Jihua, chairman of the Shanghai Technology Exchange, said the cooperation benefits from China, especially Shanghai's inclusive environment for innovation and talent advantages. He mentioned that there is still great potential in the field of sports consumption.

Gu Yingjie contributed to this story.