Soccer fan Xi Jinping rounds off UK state visit with selfie at home of Manchester City
Former China and City footballer Sun Jihai also due to be inducted into National Football Museum Hall of Fame
He posed alongside Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron in a photograph taken by City's Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.
Aguero wrote on Twitter: "Thank you for the selfie, President Xi".
After three days of banquets, processions and trade talks, Xi's final day saw him meet former players of both Manchester City and cross-city rivals Manchester United, whose current teams will play each other on Sunday.
On his tour of the northern England city, Xi was accompanied by British Prime Minister David Cameron on a visit to City’s academy, officials and representatives of the club said.
READ MORE: Beijing makes big play to realise Xi Jinping's dreams for soccer greatness
The state-of-the-art training facility includes a 7,000 capacity stadium and 16 football pitches that can cater for more than 450 players.
They observe a training match and met players who helped build the city’s footballing legacy, including former United player-turned pundit Gary Neville and former City stars Patrick Vieira and Mike Summerbee.
They were also sue to meet Denis Law, who scored 171 goals for United during the 1960s and 70s, but who famously scored a goal to relegate the club after transferring to City.
The two leaders were also due to tour of the National Football Museum, which houses Chinese and British artefacts including the 1930 World Cup ball and a seven panel football, a gift from the China Football Museum, which pre-dates 1914.
Former City player and China international Sun Jihai was due to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.
The British government is keen to show off its “Northern Powerhouse” project, in which councils in the post-industrial north are being given more powers in an attempt to stimulate their economies.
Britain is courting Chinese involvement in US$37 billion of investment projects in the north of the country as part of its plan to regenerate the region, whose development has lagged the more prosperous southeast.
Hainan Airlines will announce the first direct flights between Manchester and China, a deal which Britain said could boost the city’s economy by about US$77 million.
READ MORE: Soccer-mad Xi Jinping more blue than red: Was decision to visit Manchester City a deliberate snub to fierce rivals Manchester United?
Partnerships to build and finance the regeneration of parts of the city will also be agreed, plus the finalisation of Hong Kong-listed Fujian province firm Netdragon Websoft’s US$130 million acquisition of educational supplies company Promethean World.
As part of a raft of partnership deals, Hainan Airlines is expected to announce its first direct flights from Manchester Airport to China.
“China is a key trading partner for the UK and the partnerships being made today will see real investment going into the North,” Cameron was due to say, according to extracts from a speech released by Downing Street.
Agence France-Presse, Reuters
