Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Sunday’s fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal, according to media reports.
While Starmer is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United.
Manchester United secured a 3-2 victory in a tightly contested match. By offering the gift involving two of the English Premier League’s most celebrated teams, Starmer’s gesture appeared meant to warm up Sino-British ties that have been fraught with complexity.
Xi is widely understood to be a football enthusiast, prompting some world leaders to try their hand at “football diplomacy” to find common ground with the Chinese president.
This was not the first time the Premier League has played a role in the bilateral relationship.