A delegation from The Football Association arrived in Shanghai, China, this week to participate in China's Football Expo 2002 - a 4-day programme of exhibitions, demonstrations and seminars involving the football industry. The F.A.'s Technical Co-ordinator was one of the keynote speakers alongside an impressive list which included AFC General Secretary Dato' Peter Velappan, Walter Gagg from FIFA and the General Secretary of Japan's 'J'League Kazuki Sasaki.

Robin Russell addressed an audience of 150 delegates on the relationship between The F.A. and its clubs, giving The F.A. the opportunity to explain the role of football's governing body in increasing participation at the grass roots level and the major steps that it has made in conjunction with the clubs in various areas from football in the community to the development of elite players.

China, whose population numbers some 1.2 billion is one of the fastest-expanding football markets in the world. Some 200 million television sets have been purchased in the last few weeks as the country awaits China's first ever participation in the FIFA World Cup. But it is seeking to learn and The F.A. is one model which the Chinese Football Association has turned to. A delegation from the CFA visited England in March for talks and an exchange programme involving their coaches and technical staff will start later this year. In the meantime, Russell and his assistant, Danielle Every, will present a Technical Directors Course this weekend in Shanghai.

Alongside Expo and the ongoing talks with the CFA, the delegation also met with Peter Velappan, presenting to him and his officials a proposal for a Development Plan for Asian football. The request for the plan had originally been put to The F.A. at the end of last year and entailed a 4 month research programme, study visits to 9 countries in Asia, analysis of the results and a conclusive document presented today.

Jane Bateman, The F.A.'s Head of International Relations, spoke to TheFA.com from Shanghai. "The opportunity to work with the AFC on this blueprint for Asian football development has been a unique and fascinating experience. It was also significant for us as we seek to improve our relationships with the international football fraternity and our knowledge of football overseas. The potential of football on this continent is enormous, not least when you think that 60% of the world's population is in Asia and a fifth of the world's youth are here. As Mr Velappan is quoted as saying, 'the future is Asia', and we are pleased to be a part of it".