The 71st Macao Grand Prix, which drew over 100,000 spectators to its iconic Guia Circuit, celebrates not just thrilling racing but also the growing prominence of Chinese racers and teams on the international stage.
The 71st Macao Grand Prix concluded on Nov 17, attracting legions of spectators to witness its electrifying races.
Renowned worldwide for its prestige and impact, the Macao Grand Prix and its Guia Circuit have witnessed both the grit of racers and the transformation of the city itself.
Among the competitors, 43-year-old Macao racer Leong Ian Veng has been a familiar face, participating in the Grand Prix for 19 consecutive years.
Over the past decade, Leong has amassed over 100 trophies in global competitions, but he cherishes his victories in the Macao Grand Prix the most.
During a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV), he proudly showcased three of his championship trophies from the event.
The Guia Circuit stretches 6.2 kilometers, with its widest point measuring 14 meters and its narrowest just seven meters.
Its sharp turns and unpredictable terrain keep captivating racers worldwide.
Michael Rutter, a British motorcycle racer, said Macao had constantly changed compared to 30 years ago when he first raced in the region.
"I've been lucky enough to win nine races. Coming back, it (Macao Motorcycle Grand Prix) has changed massively, like the city, but the track hasn't changed a lot. But all your reference points change everything time they build a new building. It looks different to us because when you race a motorcycle, you look everywhere. You don't just look at the track," he said.
The transformation extends beyond the city's skyline.
Leong takes pride in the growing eminence of Chinese-made cars and Chinese teams on international stages. Macao and Chinese mainland racers have repeatedly claimed top honors, united under the banner of Chinese motorsport.
"When we race abroad now, we rarely say we're from Macao. We call ourselves Chinese racers," Leong said.
"This shift started about a decade ago, reflecting China's different global stature compared to the past. I don't just aim to finish races. Moreover, I strive to represent China on the podium," he stressed.
Macao Grand Prix witnesses rise of China's motorsport
Macao Grand Prix witnesses rise of China's motorsport
The people-to-people exchanges should be encouraged rather than limited as they can promote relations among countries, said an expert from the United States.
On April 10, 1971, the U.S. table tennis delegation visited China, breaking the ice for China-U.S. relations and is remembered as the Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
Odd Arne Westad, a renowned historian and a global Cold War scholar at Yale University, said in a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) that history shows sports and cultural links can steer state relations toward positive interaction.
"I'm glad that we are celebrating the anniversary of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy, because I think all kinds of exchanges, including sports exchanges and cultural exchanges among countries, are really important, particularly in the kind of setting that we are seeing today. And as you rightly said, the kind of sports links that gradually started to develop between the United States and China, then became a kind of conduit over onto much more significant positive changes in the relationship between the two countries. What I want to see today is much more interaction in terms of those people-to-people contacts between the United States and China," he said.
The scholar said such exchanges should develop naturally rather than be restricted.
"Instead, we are heading, it seems to me, in the opposite direction. There are far fewer American students in China now than was the case a decade ago. The number of Chinese students coming to the United States also seemed to be going down. At Yale, some of my very best students are Chinese. As an institution, we take enormous pride in the more than 100-year-old relationship that we have with China. I think it's very important for those kinds of links to continue, not just because they are good for the people involved, but much more importantly, as the Ping-Pong Diplomacy shows that they can influence the broader relationships, including even issues that have to do with high politics and strategy, if we let them develop naturally instead of trying to limit it," he said.
In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. Table Tennis team took a historic trip to China, becoming the first delegation of Americans to visit China in decades. Their trip helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of official diplomatic relations between China and the United States.
Later that year, then U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger secretly visited Beijing in July, paving the way for a groundbreaking 1972 meeting in Beijing between then U.S President Richard Nixon and China's late Chairman Mao Zedong.
On Feb 28, 1972, as Nixon's visit to China drew to an end, the historic Shanghai Communique was issued, becoming the political foundation for normalizing China-U.S. relations.
The two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1979.
US scholar stresses importance of people-to-people exchanges in promoting ties among countries
