China plans to bid for the 2023 Asian Cup ©Getty Images

China is planning to bid for the 2023 Asian Cup, the continent's flagship football competition, they have announced.

The tournament could be seen as a forerunner to a potential campaign to stage the FIFA World Cup, possibly in 2034. 

The decision to launch a bid comes after President Xi Jinping called on the the country to set a goal of hosting and winning a World Cup, even though they have only qualified for the tournament once, in 2002.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has begun consulting with cities around the country interested in hosting matches if they are awarded the Asian Cup. 

A deadline of March 20 has been set for cities to put themselves forward and will make their selection the following month. 

The CFA is seeking at least six cities and eight stadia with a minimum capacity of 25,000 to stage matches. 

Cities who want to stage the opening match, semi-finals and the final must have a capacity of at least 40,000. 

Each city must also have an international airport and at least 10 five-star hotels.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is expected to choose a winning country in 2018 or 2019. 

Japan won the last Asian Cup staged in China, in 2004, beating the hosts 3-1 in the final ©Getty Images
Japan won the last Asian Cup staged in China, in 2004, beating the hosts 3-1 in the final ©Getty Images

The Asian Cup is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after the Copa América.

The winning team automatically qualifies for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

China last hosted the tournament in 2004 when they were beaten 3-1 in the final by Japan before a crowd of 62,000 at the Workers Stadium in Beijing.

The match was marked by post-match rioting by Chinese fans due to a combination of controversial officiating and anti-Japanese sentiment resulting from historical tensions

On that occasion China staged the matches in four cities - Chongqing, Jinan and Chengdu joining Beijing. 

The last Asian Cup took place last year in Australia, the home country lifting the trophy, beating South Korea 2-1 in the final. 

The next tournament is scheduled to take place in 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.

It is due to feature 24 countries playing matches at six stadiums in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.

China had originally planned to bid for the tournament but in the end withdrew, leaving the AFC to choose the United Arab Emirates ahead of Iran.