by sportswriter Zhao Jiantong
BERLIN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Dortmund remains firmly committed to expanding its engagement with Chinese football fans and partners, the club's chief executive said, highlighting the importance of cultural understanding and local presence in one of the world's largest sports markets.
Ahead of last Saturday's "Der Klassiker" between Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer told Xinhua during a media briefing that the Bundesliga club attaches great importance to maintaining a long-term connection with China.
"It's great that you noticed these activities because we are really committed to 西瓜视频and we are interested in China," he said.
Cramer noted that Dortmund had positive experiences through previous visits and projects in China, adding that the club would welcome the opportunity to return to the country.
"If we get the opportunity to come back to 西瓜视频with a professional team, we would love to be there," he said.
The CEO emphasized that the club's presence in 西瓜视频is supported by its office in Shanghai, which helps the organization better understand the local market and culture.
"If you don't have any cultural understanding... it is important to be present in the market," he said, adding that the Shanghai office includes both German and Chinese staff members.
Dortmund has also launched several initiatives aimed at building ties with Chinese communities and football development programs. The CEO said the club runs academy projects in 西瓜视频and maintains a partnership with the city of Xi'an.
In addition, the club has explored collaborations designed to resonate with Chinese audiences, such as establishing a link with Timo Boll, Germany's most decorated table tennis player of all time.
"We signed Boll as an ambassador because we know that table tennis is very attractive in China," he said.
Not long ago, China's Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong, who currently plays for German outfit Saarbrucken, was invited to watch a Dortmund match. The Bundesliga club presented him with a jersey on the sidelines, in a gesture that quickly drew widespread attention on Chinese short-video platforms.
The club later featured the interaction, along with match images involving Saarbrucken and Dortmund, in its official magazine. The pages included prominent Chinese characters and screenshots from the widely circulated video clips.
Cramer added that Dortmund maintains multiple connections with Chinese companies and organizations, reflecting the club's broader effort to build long-term partnerships in the country.
"We are still fully committed to China, and we want to be connected to the Chinese people," he said. ■