The 2023 East Asian Youth Football Development Forum was held on Sept 6 at the Sino-German Ecopark in Qingdao, Shandong province. Youth football experts from eight countries and regions of the East Asian Football Federation participated in the activity.

The 2023 East Asian Youth Football Development Forum is held on Sept 6 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/Qingdao News]

Representatives from countries and regions such as China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macao introduced their experiences in youth football development, while Tian Weiguo, director of the Qingdao Football Management Center, introduced the development of Qingdao's football.

The forum was held during the 2023 EAFF U15 Men's Championship, which was held in Qingdao from Sept 1 to 8.

The forum was designed to build an exchange platform, further promote the integrated development of regional youth football, lay a foundation for future exchanges and interactions between professional football, youth football and football in general, and further promote sports, economic and cultural cooperation and exchanges between different regions.

Participants attend the forum. [Photo/Qingdao News]

Qingdao is a city that has a deep love for football, with a strong foundation in youth football training and a thriving grassroots football scene, earning itself the reputation as the "City of Football."

The local government has always attached great importance to the development of football, making it a key focus in the construction of a dynamic and fashionable city.