A TWO-DAY visit by an English Premier League (EPL) delegation to promote future soccer cooperation with the Village Super League (VSL), which was dubbed as “cun chao” by Chinese netizens, came to an end Monday in Rongjiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China’s Guizhou province.

“I think ‘cun chao’ is great, and I have felt the locals’ great passion here in Rongjiang,” said Graham Robinson, a representative of the delegation, and also the international consultant of the EPL.

Robinson added that he hoped that the cooperation on soccer training and other related fields between the two leagues could get better, based on their in-depth understanding of Rongjiang’s soccer situation gained through the visit.

The delegation went to Rongjiang’s primary and secondary schools such as the Guizhou No. 2 Primary School and the Gaopai Primary School, observed a friendly match between two VSL teams, and discussed with VSL players, coaches and referees.

“The purpose of the delegation’s visit is to better understand the current situation of Rongjiang’s soccer, so as to better help promote its development in the future,” said Peng Xixi, head of the VSL operation and management office.

According to Peng, the VSL, which went viral on the Internet this summer and drew the attention of the nation, helped Rongjiang attract more than 5.19 million tourists for a comprehensive income of 5.986 billion yuan (US$837 million) from May 13 to Oct. 28 this year.

(Xinhua)