The 2018 "Soong Ching Ling Cup" China-ASEAN Youth Football Friendly Matches concluded Saturday at Xianghe National Football Training Base in north China's Hebei province. During the eight-day program, young players from China and ASEAN countries played football matches, experienced different culture and made good friends. 

Jointly organized by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), Chinese Football Association and ASEAN-China Centre, the activities were held in Beijing and Xianghe to mark the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, said Wang Jiarui, chairman of the CSCLF. 

"China and ASEAN countries are good neighbors and good friends. This tournament is a good demonstration of that friendship," Wang said.

This year, around 150 young players from eight countries, including China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines participated in the tournament; while Singapore sent game observers for the first time.

After intense competition, the team from Laos won the championship, with team Thai and team China taking second and third place respectively.

"We have two objectives here," said Som Liensavanh, head of the Lao delegation. "One is to make friends with teams from other countries; the other to be the champion. I think we tried our best." 

He thanked the event organizers for their warm hospitality and considerate arrangements. "The CSCLF did a good job to bring these teams from ASEAN countries together. The whole event has been professionally organized; the boys are very happy and it is good to be part of this event." 

Twelve-year-old Bill from the team Laos has made friends with boys from Thailand and the Philippines. They talked about football and "funny things" whenever they meet. Bill said the Chinese boys were friendly too. If someday his Chinese friends visited his country, he would definitely recommend them some Lao food.

After the match, young football players visited the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Centre for Young People in Beijing to experience Chinese traditional culture through projects such as printing, dyeing, weaving, traditional Chinese medicine, Peking opera, blue and white ceramics and wood art. 

"Young people compete with each other on the field; while off the field, they make friends, and share the charm of different cultures," said Wang. He suggests the young players from ASEAN countries share their experiences visiting China with their families and friends back home, and welcomed them to participate in the "Soong Ching Ling Cup" next year.

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