China News Service, Beijing, April 24th. Title: From "Ping Pong Diplomacy" to "Oversea Ball Game", an encounter and commemoration 50 years later
Author Ma Shuaisha Xing Chong
Fifty years ago, at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium, Liang Geliang and Zhu Di participated in a significant Sino-US table tennis friendly match; 50 years later, Liang Geliang and Zhu Di from the other side of the ocean "meet" at the stadium again at the Beijing Shougang Park. ——In the 50th anniversary commemorative event of the "Ping Pong Diplomacy" between China and the United States held on the 24th, the two wore VR equipment to play a virtual "cross-ocean ball game."
During the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships, the friendly interaction between Chinese and American athletes received widespread attention.
Taking sports exchanges as an opportunity, China and the United States have gradually pushed the relationship to break the ice.
On April 10 of that year, the American table tennis team visited China. In July, Kissinger, who was then the assistant to the US president for national security affairs, visited China secretly; in February the following year President Nixon visited China, and the Chinese table tennis team visited the United States in April..." The connotation of "Ping Pong Diplomacy" has been continuously enriched, and "the small ball turns the big ball".
"Friendship first, competition second" is the theme of this commemorative event.
It is difficult to erase a few words from the memory of those who witnessed the "meeting" on the screen-because these are even the eight words that change history.
"At that time, Premier Zhou Enlai emphasized to us that friendship is first and competition is second before we visited the United States. Our visit to the United States was not only for the table tennis match, but also mainly to spread friendship." said Li Furong, a witness.
Li Furong specifically mentioned that in the Rose Garden of the White House, the then US President Nixon expressed the same words when he received the Chinese table tennis team: the outcome of the game is not important, and the victory belongs to the Chinese and American people.
Just as the table tennis field "you come and me" can be more exciting, "you chase me and catch up" can make progress together. In the past 50 years, it has been under the cooperation concept of "friendship first" that China and the United States have made economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges, and joint responses. The fruitful results in areas such as global issues are precisely the interpretation of the meaning of "ping-pong diplomacy" in the "encounters".
Taking sports exchanges as an example, 50 years have witnessed the "meeting" of people from the sports circles of the two countries.
As a player, Yao Ming once went to the US professional basketball team to play and became an outstanding representative of Sino-US sports exchanges. Now, as the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, he has a deeper understanding of the word "communication": communication is the only way to resolve misunderstandings and prejudices.
"We need to create platforms, opportunities and bridges for communication."
"Sports and culture know no borders." Qiao Liang, a Chinese American gymnastics coach, once led the American women's team to a glorious history in gymnastics. In 2018, he took over the Chinese women's team coach and led the Chinese gymnastics team out of the trough.
He said that competitions and exchanges can deepen the understanding of athletes from various countries, and such opportunities are undoubtedly precious.
For Liu Guoliang, Chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, "ping pong diplomacy" is a story he "he has listened to since he was a child", and he has also participated in related commemorative activities many times.
"Everyone will remember this history at all times. Table tennis is just a carrier. Through this sport, friendship and positive energy are passed on. This should be passed on from generation to generation."
Just a week ago, the former "old rival", Swedish table tennis star Waldner and Liu Guoliang talked on the phone, saying that he would select outstanding foreign players to exchange games with the Chinese players led by Liu Guoliang. This was laughed by the host Shui Junyi. Say "Ping Pong Diplomacy Version 2.0".
In the current century, the epidemic situation and the changes in a century are superimposed and turbulent, and Sino-US relations are facing new challenges.
To create more "meetings" and "you come and go", "big wisdom in the small ball" is more needed, and we look forward to the "upgraded version" of "ping-pong diplomacy".
In his video speech, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan emphasized that China-US relations are currently at an important juncture.
It is necessary to draw inspiration and motivation from history, focus on cooperation, manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger stated in a video speech that day that “ping pong diplomacy” represents many people’s expectations for the future, that is, the people of the United States and China can rely on the importance of the two countries in the world structure and the world economy. Reach an understanding between each other.
"Friendship first, competition second", the wisdom of 50 years ago still shines today, and the "encounter" that changed history 50 years ago also needs to be commemorated.
As a witness, Li Furong said that "ping pong diplomacy" played a key role 50 years ago and opened the door to China and the United States. 50 years later, its essence should continue to play a greater role.
(Finish)