Chinese football will have more German input in the future. Football associations of both countries have signed a five-year deal. And the Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong called for the further coordination and promotion from both sides in football.

Did they talk about the state of the global economy - or Donald Trump's election victory? No. Top of the agenda between China's Vice Premier Liu Yandong and German Chancellor Angela Merkel - football. Football associations of both countries have signed a five-year deal - that'll see Germany players, coaches and referees provide guidance to their Chinese counterparts.

Five-year deal to strengthen ties between China and German

China is making a big investment in European football -- part of a bid to become a global sporting superpower. Lately Italy has been a prime target for Chinese investors. Earlier this year, they bought majority stakes in both AC and Inter Milan.

And in October, World Cup and Champions League winning coach Marcello Lippi became head coach of the Chinese national football team. Though the Sino-German link is likely to be more about talent acquisition than buying clubs, which you can't do in Germany.

"German football clubs are owned by the members, and you can only have minority investors -- and for most foreign investors, that's not really interesting," said football journalist Christoph Biermann.

The focus of the vice premier's visit, so far, has been warning Europe against protectionist trade policies. Perhaps sport could be fertile ground for keeping free trade in play.