Dortmund reaffirms commitment to China and Asia-Pacific markets

BERLIN, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Dortmund has reiterated its long-term commitment to expanding its presence across the Asia-Pacific region, with China remaining a central pillar of that strategy.

BVB's new CEO Carsten Cramer made the remarks in a recent online media roundtable and emphasized that despite his absence from the region this time, the club's investment and engagement in China remain both "deep and sincere."

"We are still committed and very happy to be present in China," Cramer told Xinhua and other media on Monday. "We have our office in Shanghai. We have many academy facilities in China. Our social media activities are growing rapidly."

According to Cramer, BVB's presence in China includes a Shanghai office and multiple football academies.

In March this year, the club held the opening ceremony for a new international football academy in Beijing, which was seen as an important step in strengthening its ties with China.

Cramer stated that the club is ready to return to China with its first team for friendly matches, saying "the moment we receive an invitation. We would accept it within one second."

BVB's outreach in Asia dates back more than a decade. The club established its first international office in Singapore in 2014, a milestone that marked the beginning of its journey to build a truly global fanbase.

As part of its efforts to strengthen connections in China, BVB has recently appointed world-renowned German table tennis star Timo Boll as its brand ambassador, who has been one of the strongest opponents of the Chinese men's table tennis team for more than two decades and has formed a deep friendship with China.

Cramer views this as a symbol of the "strong bond" between BVB and Chinese football and sports fans, underscoring the club's belief that "the Dortmund story is attractive" to Chinese supporters and beyond.

With growing fan interest, expanding youth academy presence and rising digital engagement, BVB plans to scale up its Asia operations.

Cramer pledged that the club would expand staffing in its Shanghai and Singapore offices to meet increasing demand. The club sees this as a long-term strategic investment in globalizing its brand while staying true to its roots.

"When you invest in so many different areas in China, it is not because you want to stop - it is because you want to intensify and extend your relationship." ■