March 1 - East Asian Football Championship 2008 will kick off at China's southwestern city of Chongqing next February, East Aisan Football Federation (EAFF) chairman Xie Yalong announced on Wednesday.

 

According to Xinhua News Agency, the executive committee of EAFF held the 20th conference this morning and made several decisions concerning the development of East Asian football.

 

Xie Yalong said the tournament will be held from Feb 17-24, and the EAFF Women's Championship will also be conducted in Chongqing during the period.

 

"The championship will certainly strengthen East Asian teams' level," said EAFF vice chairman Junji Ogura.

 

China, Japan, South Korea enter the men's finals automatically, and another team will be the winner of the preliminary competitions, which includes Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, DPR Korea, Mongolia, Guam or Northern Mariana Islands.

 

As for the women's finals, China, Japan and DPR Korea book berths directly, and South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Guam will fight for another seat through preliminary rounds.

 

China won their first title of the championship in 2005.