China News Service, April 10 (Reporter Xu Jing) "In order to participate in this friendly match, I started training in August last year. I am very happy to participate in today's match. I think it is a very meaningful thing." 10 On Japan, Athena Messick, who represented the United States in the China-US ping-pong friendly match, told reporters excitedly before the match.

　　This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-US ping-pong diplomacy.

On the same day, a series of activities in Shanghai to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sino-US table tennis diplomacy opened at the International Table Tennis Federation Museum and the China Table Tennis Museum.

This series of activities is co-sponsored by Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Shanghai Sports Federation, Shanghai Institute of Sport and Shanghai Institute of American Studies. It includes a series of activities such as the opening ceremony, friendly matches, theme exhibitions, and special reports.

　　13 American athletes and 13 Chinese athletes formed 4 Sino-US mixed teams to participate in the friendly match. Each team has a unique team name: Happy Ping Pong, Ping Pong Friends, Beauty and Handsome Team, and Flying Tigers.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai delivered a video speech.

Photo by Tang Yanjun

　　After the friendly match was announced, Shi Zhihao, vice chairman of the International Table Tennis Federation, and Jeffrey Raymond, the executive vice president of New York University in Shanghai, jointly kicked off the ball. After seeing a professionally dressed Raymond, Shi Zhihao took off his suit jacket and tie. A serious "duel" with Raymond, bursts of applause and cheers on the scene.

　　Raymond, who considers himself “good at playing”, said that today’s activities are very meaningful. He has a deep connection with table tennis. His father taught him to play table tennis. He was a member of the school table tennis team when he was in college, and he had personal experience of Chinese table tennis. The team returned to the United States, "the scene at the time is vividly vivid".

　　In Raymond's view, "ping-pong diplomacy" is like a turning point, writing a key stroke in the history of Sino-US relations and opening the prelude to close Sino-US exchanges and mutual prosperity.

Over the past 50 years, the economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between the two countries have become more and more in-depth, and he believes that the exchanges will continue in the future.

　　On April 10, 1971, the American table tennis delegation was invited to visit China and became the first group of Americans allowed to enter China since 1949.

This incident has had a huge impact on Sino-US relations and is hailed as "small balls push big balls."

The friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American table tennis teams "not only shortened the distance between the Chinese and American peoples, but also opened the historical prelude to the improvement and development of Sino-US relations."

In the early 1970s, Shanghai witnessed the whole process of ping-pong diplomacy. Many famous Shanghai ping-pong players participated in the reception of the American table tennis delegation and the Chinese table tennis delegation’s visit to the United States.

　　At the opening ceremony of the series of activities that day, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai delivered a video speech with "Ping-pong diplomacy 50 years ago is of special significance in the history of Sino-US relations. It has creatively opened up a unique way for the people of the two countries separated for decades. The way of exchanges has sent a signal to the two countries and the world to improve relations between China and the United States, which opened the prelude to a series of major events from President Nixon’s visit to China to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. the opinion of.

　　Cui Tiankai pointed out that today, Sino-US relations are facing a key choice as to where to go. Both sides should inherit and carry forward the spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences carried in ping-pong diplomacy, firmly grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations, objectively treat each other’s strategic intentions, and make cooperation a reality. The common options of China and the United States ensure the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations.

　　"For a long time, the two countries have had constant personnel exchanges and frequent exchanges and cooperation in sports, education, science and technology, culture and other fields. Table tennis is becoming more and more popular in the United States and has become one of the symbols of friendly exchanges between China and the United States." Cui Tiankai said. China is willing to work with the United States to uphold the spirit of respect, friendship, and win-win ping-pong competition, and to promote and achieve each other's achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation and healthy competition.

On April 10, a series of activities in Shanghai to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sino-US table tennis diplomacy opened at the Museum of the International Table Tennis Federation and the Chinese Table Tennis Museum.

Photo by Tang Yanjun

　　Xie Crossland, the former chairman of the US Table Tennis Association, admitted in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the event that as early as 50 years ago, the mission of "Friendship First" was established.

At present, there are still 5 members alive in the 1971 delegation.

Over the years, the US Table Tennis Association has received invitations to visit, and sometimes it is necessary to get a response from the members as soon as possible.

Without exception, they will enthusiastically answer every time: "Okay, I will free up time immediately!"

　　"I firmly believe that when the time is right next time, they will give the same answer." Xie Crossland said, looking back on the past, the past is vivid; looking forward to the future, good years can be expected.

　　Changsha Hailin of the Shanghai Friendship Association stated that "ping-pong diplomacy" has enabled China and the United States to move from isolation to contact, and from confrontation to dialogue.

The ties between Shanghai and the United States have a long history. Since the opening of the port, they have maintained close economic, trade and cultural exchanges with American society.

In recent years, despite the artificial resistance in Sino-US economic and trade relations, the business communities of China and the United States have maintained close cooperation.

At the 3rd CIIE in 2020, the number of exhibitors from the United States ranked first.

In 2020, despite the impact of the epidemic, the import and export volume between Shanghai and the United States increased by 6.3%, and the United States established 428 new companies in Shanghai.

This not only demonstrates the important position of Shanghai in Sino-US relations, but also proves that Sino-US economic and trade cooperation is deeply rooted, and that Sino-US cooperation is what the people want.

　　Sha Hailin said that sports make people's lives better and sports make the Chinese and American people more friendly. He believes that this event can once again enhance the friendship between the Chinese and American people, enhance mutual understanding, and promote people-to-people friendship.

　　In addition, the Shanghai theme exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Sino-US Ping Pong Diplomacy, which opened on the same day, uses more than 140 archive photos, more than 60 collections, and more than 80 minutes of video material to relive the spring that was written in history 50 years ago, and let the audience be Looking back to get enlightenment for the future.

It is reported that this theme exhibition will last for one month.

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