Liverpool Football Club has renewed its commitment to support a youth coaching programme in the southwest China city of Kunming, in a long-term partnership with Kunming Municipal Bureau of Education.

Announced today at the inaugural China International Import Expo (CIIE), the partnership will see the Reds continue to deliver football coaching to school children at the International Academy in Kunming during term-time in a professional environment.

The partnership was announced as part of a special signing ceremony at CIIE, an international trade event hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government, to highlight the very best of UK-China sports relations.

Since the programme started earlier this year, hundreds of children from 10 schools across Kunming have gained the opportunity to get active and improve their football skills, developing in the technical, tactical, physical, mental and social aspects of the game through age-specific coaching sessions.

80 local coaches have also taken part in a dedicated coach education programme to help improve football coaching standards in Kunming.

As part of the renewal, the initiative will now be developed to create a central hub of activity, which will form the focal point of the coach education programmes in the region. This will result in many more young players getting the chance to develop their skills both on and off the pitch.

Through the unique coaching methods of Liverpool FC, young participants enrolling on to the scheme will also have the opportunity to focus on improving key life skills, such as communication, teamwork, confidence, preparation and organisation.

A wide range of year-round programmes and activities are planned, including ongoing player development sessions and an annual youth football tournament.

The development of the coaching programme will continue to be overseen by LFC International Academy coach, Dan Reece, who is based in Kunming to head up the project. Local coaches will also be involved and will benefit from a comprehensive coach education scheme to deliver coaching ‘The Liverpool Way’.

Dan White, Head of LFC’s International Academies, said: “Our International Academy in Kunming has been hugely successful since it launched at the start of the year and has created many fantastic opportunities for young players here in China to improve their skills and be developed via our unique coaching system.

“We are absolutely delighted to be continuing our relationship with our partners in Kunming to provide opportunities for young players in the city to be coached The Liverpool Way. Announcing the partnership at the prestigious CIIE event highlights the significance of not only maintaining our relationship with the city of Kunming, but also how this is as a key step forward for the UK and China working together in football development.”