Retired British soccer player, David Beckham paid a visit to children with congenital heart disease at a hospital in eastern China's Hangzhou city of Zhejiang province.

During the trip, Beckram's second to China this year, he will observe games, attend training sessions and take part in charitable events in Beijing and the eastern cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou.

At the hospital, Beckham signed autographs and talked with children, state television CCTV showed.

When he learnt one of the girls was crying after being bullied, he gave her a hug CCTV reported.

In March, China named the former England captain as its global soccer ambassador to revive the game's image which has been hit by a match-fixing scandal and an exodus of international stalwarts from the country's premier league.

In his new role, Beckham is expected to help bring the Chinese Super League (CSL) to the world stage and promote the game in the world's most populous country.