AC Milan Football Club ambassadors Franco Baresi (L2) and Daniele Massaro (L3) play football with students in Sanya Experimental Primary School on June 12. [Photo/hinews.cn]

A partnership between Italian football giant AC Milan and the China Next Generation Education Foundation (CNGEF) was launched on June 12 in Sanya, China's Hainan province, to help improve the level of youth football in China.

As an important part of CNGEF's "Children's Football Development Plan", the one-year public benefit project "AC Milan campus soccer" will start in June in 39 schools located in Beijing, Changchun, Sanya, Guangzhou, Dongguan and other cities across China.

According to Zhang Lu, a well-known football commentator in the country, the Children's Football Development Plan aims to promote football in schools rather than fostering future professional playing talents. As such, it will focus on the all-round development of children.

Li Yonghong, president of AC Milan Football Club, said that AC Milan is not only a football club, but also a symbol of the footballing spirit and the good that it can do in the world. The club is hoping to popularize football in China through the program.

Chen Pengcheng, the deputy director of the Education Bureau of Sanya City, revealed that the local government will throw its full support behind the project and help children cultivate their interest in football.

Li Yonghong (L1), president of AC Milan Football Club, presents football shirts to headmasters of schools in Sanya. [Photo/hinews.cn]

The China Next Generation Education Foundation issues certificates to AC Milan Football Club and Sanya Shuguang Real Estate Development Co, Ltd. [Photo/hinews.cn]