A cultural exchange event commemorating the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" was held on Tuesday at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington State.
The event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Chinese Table Tennis Association, and co-hosted by the U.S.–China Youth and Student Exchange Association. Nearly 500 guests participated in the event.
China Media Group (CMG) President Shen Haixiong, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Yang Wanming, and Chinese Table Tennis Association President Wang Liqin delivered video addresses.
Shen noted that 55 years ago, a small ping-pong ball opened the door to mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States, creating the remarkable story of "a small ball moving the big ball".
Ten years ago, during his visit to the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged American youths at Lincoln High School to travel more in China, bringing renewed confidence in and momentum to China-U.S. friendship.
Shen said the friendship between the two nations depends on strong people-to-people exchanges, which are rooted in mutual understanding. The hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, and its future rests with the youths, he said.
He encouraged people to work together to write a new and remarkable chapter in people-to-people exchanges in the new era.
Xie said the "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" 55 years ago unlocked the pathway to friendly exchanges between people from the two countries and ultimately the development of bilateral relations. That spirit is now being renewed through new forms such as pickleball diplomacy and basketball diplomacy.
More than 40,000 young Americans, including students from Lincoln High School, have visited China for exchanges and studies under the "50,000 in five years" initiative, and become envoys of goodwill across the Pacific.
He expressed the hope that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and the U.S. will move step by step to turn the shared vision for bilateral relations into a win-win reality, bringing more tangible benefits to both peoples and injecting greater stability and positive energy into the world.
Connie Sweeris, a former member of the U.S. table tennis team and a firsthand witness to Ping-Pong Diplomacy, said that the unforgettable experience she had 55 years ago remains vivid in her memory, and that she is honored to have contributed to China-U.S. relations through Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
She added that everyone has the opportunity to become an ambassador for people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China.
At the event, guests took part in a friendship match on the ping-pong table presented to Lincoln High School during President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States in 2015, and watched a commemorative video produced by CMG marking the 55th anniversary of China–U.S. Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
Participants expressed hope that the tradition of Ping-Pong Diplomacy will be continuously carried forward, contributing to deeper friendship and greater mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States.
Cultural event commemorating 55th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy held in US
Cultural event commemorating 55th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy held in US
Cultural event commemorating 55th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy held in US
