EINHAUSEN, Germany, May 3 (Xinhua) -- On a mild April afternoon, the nearly 85-year-old Klaus Schlappner and his wife stood smiling in front of their garden, waving to visiting reporters. Moments later, they stepped into their cozy home, and Schlappner returned with a few cups, asking, "What would you like to drink - beer or Chinese tea?"

Blue-and-white porcelain adorned the living room shelves. A trophy inscribed in Chinese - a memento from the 1984 China Great Wall Cup international football tournament - immediately caught the eye.

"That was my first time in China," Schlappner said, pointing to the trophy.

FRIENDSHIP FORGED THROUGH FOOTBALL

Schlappner recalled leading SV Waldhof Mannheim on a trip to China that year - an unexpected journey that quietly sowed the seeds of a decades-long friendship.

Schlappner vividly remembered his first arrival. "At Beijing airport, customs officers examined my passport again and again. At that time, it was still rare for foreigners to visit China," he said.

Initially nervous in a foreign land, he was eager to connect but feared his appearance might create distance. "I was worried they wouldn't accept me."

But those fears quickly faded. "Whether in restaurants, shops, or on the streets, when I said 'hello' or 'good evening,' people responded with warmth and sincerity. That kind of friendliness came straight from the heart."

After returning to Germany, Schlappner kept in touch with his new Chinese friends. A year later, he invited two Chinese coaches to visit his home.

"I taught them how to cook German food, and I learned to make Chinese dishes from them," he said. Pointing to his phone, he added, "To this day, we're still in contact. Friendships like that need care."

"The exchanges between Germany and China should be like that too - built on mutual respect, understanding, and sincerity, just like between friends," he added.

At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Schlappner watched a match between the Federal Republic of Germany and China and recognized the potential in Chinese football. So when the Chinese Football Association invited him to coach the national team in 1992, he did not hesitate.

"I had my own business in Germany, and the team I coached was doing well. Even a Bundesliga club had made me an offer," he said. "But I was fascinated by China, and my wife said, 'Let's go and see it for ourselves.' So we flew to China with curiosity and ambition. I believed I could make a difference."

"The years we spent in China are among our family's most beautiful memories," he recalled. "My wife fell in love with the country. She even got a Chinese driver's license and loved taking road trips. Later, she brought her German friends to watch Peking Opera and travel by car."

As the first foreign head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, Schlappner led the squad to a third-place finish at the 1992 AFC Asian Cup.

"They may not remember my name," Schlappner said, "but they remember the foreigner who got along with them like a neighbor."

To Schlappner, this kind of mutual trust and recognition is the internal driving force for the deepening exchanges between Europe and China. "Just like you and I are sitting here talking - we trust each other. That's how friendship begins."

CONTINUING DEVOTION TO EXCHANGES AND FRIENDSHIP

Even after stepping down in 1994, Schlappner remained deeply engaged. He helped Chinese players and coaches travel to Germany for training and, along with his wife, took part in numerous campus football programs across China.

He noted the remarkable progress in people-to-people exchanges between Europe and China over the past three decades.

"In the 1980s and 1990s, many Chinese came to Germany to study, but few Germans knew much about China," he said, adding that today, more European faces are seen in Chinese cities, and interest in China continues to grow across Europe. "People are eager to explore Chinese cities, food, and culture."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. When talking about the future relations between the two sides, Schlappner is full of confidence. "The world is becoming more complex, but disagreements and conflicts cannot stop the growth of understanding and trust between people," he said.

Schlappner places high hopes on the younger generation. He believes that youth represent the future and the bridge sustaining friendship between Europe and China.

Since 2012, Schlappner has spearheaded a youth football exchange program involving players from China and countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Supported by friendship associations on both sides, the program brings together teams for joint training sessions in Chinese and German cities.

More than 4,000 young players have participated.

"On the pitch, they learn to respect one another - that's where real friendship begins," he said. "To me, Europe-China exchange is like a young person - full of energy and potential." ■