People’s Daily Online: How much do you know about Chinese football? What is your opinion of it? How can China learn from the experience of English football’s development? 

John Gallagher: While, I know a bit about Chinese football as I have been living in China for a few years. I know the Guangzhou Evergrande brought Asia’s Champion, which is fantastic. I know that lots of developments put into Chinese football, recently raises much more money, much more highly-paid players, and highly-paid mangers. I know Chinese football fans are passionate and that’s fantastic. I know Chinese football going to develop faith, because lots of issues need to overcome by in term of making sure government instructor is right for international recognized football league. And I think there are still some issues around corruption, how that are tackled properly, so fans could have more trusts in this sport.

And there are issues around make sure when foreign players come in they have insurances they need once they come to China, feel they come and they can play safely, and feel comfortable. So Chinese football is clearly developing. And it will be great more and more people show interest in football, so I think more interests raise in football as team sport, team sport in China that is positive thing, getting people play together, that different from more individual sports, people train on the road, suffer on the road. When you play football, you play with a team; you build the relationship with that team, and team can be people from different countries. So that is very positive.

People’s Daily Online: This year marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of P. R. China. What’s your opinion on China’s development and changes in the past 65 years? And what’s your suggestion for china's future? 

John Gallagher: I think suddenly in past 30 years, China has achieved a great deal in term of economic development, and in term of lifting people out poverty, hundreds of million people, which is a very positive story, very good thing have happened. China opens to the rest of world. Increasing its openness is positive thing and I can see how Beijing is much more international city, how China has much more global roles. I think now China is the second largest economic power in the world, even more reasons for China to be more involve in international institutions and play global role because with great economic power, that also brings global responsibilities as well.

And I think in the 21^st century, there are a number of challenges that countries face. China has the key role in finding the solutions to these challenges, such as dangerous climate change, such as leave out poverty around the world, preventing conflicts where we can, and providing solutions to issues of how kind of global importance such as health cares, pandemic and such things, working collectively is way to find the solution. The UK is a good partner for China, in that perspective, that premier Li said when our Prime Minister Cameron came here said that China is an indispensable partner. And I think he is right. There are lots of British who come to China, and China continues to develop, continues to play more global roles. And I think the UK with culture of innovation, creativity is a strong partner to China. UK strengths are very well match to China’s needs, and I think the UK can support China to continue its development in economy, reform, and innovation.