Beijing held a ceremony commemorating the 55th anniversary of the China-US Ping-Pong Diplomacy on April 10, bringing together young athletes and participants from both countries.
In April 1971, a US table tennis delegation took a historic trip to China, the first delegation of Americans to visit China in decades, starting what became known as Ping-Pong Diplomacy. This helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of official diplomatic relations between China and the US.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the ceremony in which he emphasized that the foundation of China-US relations is laid by the people and that the future of bilateral relations will be shaped by the youth. He expressed the hope that people from all walks of life in both countries, especially the younger generation, will draw wisdom and strength from history, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The ceremony included story sharing by people who witnessed the initial Ping-Pong Diplomacy from both sides, a historical photo exhibition, and friendly table tennis matches between the witnesses and young ping-pong athletes from both countries. It also featured youth exchange programs such as flag football competitions and pickleball sessions.
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