LANZHOU, Aug. 22 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday said China's football will surely be better developed with intensified public participation.

He made the remarks when visiting a primary school in Gulang County, northwest China's Gansu Province.

Pupils were playing football on the playground when Xi came. They greeted Xi with cheerfulness and told him that they enjoy learning how to play football, basketball and table tennis, at school.

Joyfully watching the children playing, Xi said China's football will enjoy wider public participation and stronger support once children in such remote regions play football on regular basis, and this will surely help Chinese football grow into an elite force in Asia and even a world-class player.