Football, schooling, and the iconic London taxi, these are just three areas where Britain and China are sharing knowledge, ideas, and forging relationships.

In a year that will see the first state visit to the UK by a Chinese president in over a decade, British school kids are brushing up their Mandarin, learning the fine art of calligraphy, and getting to grips with Chinese dancing—while the Chinese get schooled in the art of cricket.

And it’s not just cricket either. Chinese president Xi Jinping is a big football fan, so when Chinese students go to the UK to study, they’re hoping to take back some ball skills—in the hope of, eventually, making it to another World Cup.

This film looks at how ordinary people are affected when two countries share their language, rich culture and dynamic economies.