Plans to open 20,000 specialist football schools in 2017, aimed at training young players and cultivating talent, are part of the government's latest plan to advance China's ability to compete on the global pitch.
为提高中国足球在国际赛场上的竞争力，中国政府日前公布了最新的足球发展计划，将在2017年开设20000所足球专业学校，用于训练年轻球员、培养人才。
The Office for National Youth Campus Football said that China already had 13,381 "special football schools" as of 2016, and 69 counties are piloting programs for football in schools, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
据新华社报道，全国青少年校园足球办公室近日表示，2016年中国已经拥有13381所“足球专业学校”，而69个区县正在学校里试点足球项目。
The office predicts the number of football schools will increase to 20,000 this year and reach 50,000 by 2025.
该办公室预计今年足球学校的数量将增加到20000所，到2025年时将增加到50000所。

Wang Dengfeng, director of the Physical Education, Health and Art Department under the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Vice Chairman of the China Football Association, was quoted as saying that football experts are designing curriculums for more than 360 training programs in primary and secondary schools.
中国教育部体卫艺司司长、中国足球协会副主席王登峰表示，足球专家们正在为小学和初中设计超过360种训练项目。
Xinhua reported in 2015 that the MOE and five other central government departments were putting together a task force to ensure that football thrives in the country's schools.
据新华社报道，2015年教育部和其他5个中央政府部门一起组成了一个专门工作组，以保障足球在中国学校里的蓬勃发展。
President Xi Jinping is also a well-known football fan, who has repeatedly voiced his support for the sport's development in China.
众所周知，中国国家主席习近平也是一个足球迷，他曾多次表达了自己对中国足球发展的支持。