Ping-pong diplomacy's 51st anniversary marked

LOS ANGELES — A gala was held at Pacific Palms Resort in Los Angeles County on Tuesday to commemorate the 51st anniversary of ping-pong diplomacy between China and the United States.

The event, jointly organized by USA Table Tennis, the Chinese consulate general in Los Angeles and the All American Chinese Association, attracted more than 500 Chinese and US officials, athletes and international sports leaders and representatives of local Chinese communities.

"Fifty-one years have passed since the US ping-pong team made its first visit to China," said Zhang Ping, consul general of China in Los Angeles, in a speech.

"Over the past five decades, despite the ups and downs in bilateral relations, the spirit of ping-pong diplomacy has been kept alive and exchanges and interactions between our two peoples remain robust."

The Chinese Table Tennis Association has maintained close contact with its US counterpart, Zhang said, recalling that the two countries' players teamed up in the mixed doubles at the World Championships in Houston last year.

"The story of ping-pong diplomacy illustrates the fact that our two countries can rise above differences and work together for common interests, and the two people can come together and forge genuine friendship. It inspires us to work harder to move China-US relations forward by promoting more exchanges and cooperation and better understanding and greater friendship between our two countries and peoples."

Gene Sykes, chair of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the friendship between the US and China experienced through sports is "something that puts our people together".

Sykes, former chief executive of the organizing committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, welcomed athletes from around the world to take part in that event.

Experience shared

"We share with China the experience of being the host of the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. And in fact, one of the stories that I think many of us in Los Angeles understand is that China helped save the 1984 Games for Los Angeles when China agreed to attend the Games and bring their team. They made these Games truly a global experience, and very, very exciting and, frankly, made a difference in all of the Olympic movement."

Virginia Sung, chief executive officer of USA Table Tennis, said the gala was one of the seven ping-pong diplomacy commemorative events to take place across the US this year.

"As we celebrate the 51st anniversary of ping-pong diplomacy we are reminded of enduring values of friendship and sportsmanship," she said.

Xinhua