Friendly sporting exchanges between young people from China and the United States are crucial in maintaining the spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy and promoting friendship between the two peoples, said Ron Chow, co-chairman of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association.
On April 10, 1971, a U.S. table tennis delegation visited China, breaking the ice on China-U.S. relations, and giving rise to the concept of Ping-Pong Diplomacy, with a return visit the following year by Chinese table tennis players to the U.S.
On April 10 this year, a commemorative meeting marking the 55th anniversary of that first visit was held at Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium, bringing together some of the table tennis players who took part in the Ping-Pong Diplomacy tour with over 100 young American and Chinese athletes.
During an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Chow said that Ping-Pong Diplomacy had had a profound impact, and the Association was very honored to contribute to the commemorative event as a co-organizer.
"We think because of the significance of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy in April 1971, what happened in the sports stadium that has resulted into the U.S.-China diplomacy started. The seat we can play a little part of the memorial in this 55th anniversary is also historical and it's very meaningful," said Chow.
Founded in November 2014, the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association is a social organization in Washington State dedicated to promoting cooperation and cultural exchanges between young people from the two countries.
Trips to China for American youths are always unforgettable and eye-opening, according to Chow, and the association has facilitated more than 2,000 visits by young Americans to China since 2015.
"After the student had returned back to the United States, they have indicated that not only they have made lifelong friends when they come to China, they also have understood China better than they just learn it locally from the news media and from the material that they ever studied about China. It opened up their eyes, and opened up their horizon, and changed their perspective," he said.
In November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years to increase exchanges between the two peoples, especially between youngsters.
Chow said that people-to-people exchanges were crucial to build bilateral relations and friendship between young people from the two countries.
"For our association, we will go beyond five years and 50,000. We want to keep on doing what we could to make sure that we can impact more youth, so we will keep doing the best possibly that we could," he said.
Chow said that while times are changing, what remains constant is that sports exchanges between young people from both countries help deepen mutual understanding, enhance friendship, and lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations.
"The small balls turns the big ball, and it's up to us to carry on the spirit of the friendship and we want to keep this going despite how difficult, how treacherous and how chaotic the world is. I think sports has no boundary. We could only do better. The players bring the sportsmanship, and bring the friendship and then move on forward," he said.
Youth exchanges key to Ping-Pong Diplomacy spirit: U.S. association co-chair
