Spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy lives on after decades

The 52nd anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy, which marked the beginning of a historic friendship between China and the United States, concluded its whirlwind tour of celebrations from east to west in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

A single act of sportsmanship that set the stage to initiate remarkable dialogue between two nations has benefited many generations. And Virginia Sung, CEO of USA Table Tennis, or USATT, was one of those who has benefited from it.

Sung, the first Chinese American senior executive of USATT, was born in Shanghai and started to play table tennis at the age of 6. The former teammate of table tennis superstar Liu Guoliang became a "ping-pong diplomat" after she moved to the US from China.

"People from two nations gathered to commemorate the event that not only changed the course of history, but also played a pivotal role in bringing two distinct cultures from then on," she told the audience during the celebratory event.

She admired Connie and Dell Sweeris, the athletes who are part of the original Ping-Pong Diplomacy team 52 years ago, and they have continuously promoted friendship and humanity through their actions. "We're also delighted to see the younger generation ready to carry on the legacy of Ping-Pong Diplomacy," she said.

In 1971, the US ping-pong team received a surprise invitation from their Chinese counterparts for a visit to China, which led to the thawing of the Sino-US relationship.

"This journey is not only to embark upon, but also laid a solid foundation for the permutations and exchanges between the people of China and the United States," Guo Shaochun, Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, said.

"The Sino-US relationship has become a key factor in global stability at this moment. We must cherish the hard-won relationship and work together to achieve mutual respect and peaceful coexistence," he added.

Many believe that the bilateral relationship is one of the world's most important bilateral ties, impacting not only economies but also world peace.

"And that's why we need to continue to build upon this relationship," US Representative Judy Chu of California said.

Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, said: "My district is home to numerous bridging Chinese and American businesses; some of them are actively engaged in trade with China. This demonstrates the positive outcomes of cooperation."

The philosophy of "friendship first, competition second" has powerfully demonstrated the potential possibilities of people combining sports with diplomacy.

Last week, hundreds of table tennis players from Chinese American communities gathered in Ontario, California, to celebrate the anniversary of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy by playing in friendly matches.