"Ping Pong Diplomacy" anniversary celebrated in Milwaukee, U.S.

10:16, July 03, 2011      

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More than 200 people gathered at Milwaukee Art Museum Friday night to welcome a Chinese table tennis delegation, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy.

In 1971, nine American table tennis players were invited to Beijing for exhibition games with Chinese players, helping break the ice between the two nations and lay the groundwork for the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Chu Maoming, China's deputy consul general in Chicago, attended the reception and welcomed the delegation, which includes members of the original 1971 delegation.

"This exchange of visits means a lot in the history of China-U.S. relations," Chu said.

"Not only did it break the ice (for China-U.S. diplomatic relations) during the Cold War and end isolation of our two peoples, but also opened the door for the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations," he said.

Following a welcome dinner, original players replayed their historic matches of 1971, while current elite senior and junior players from the two nations provided showed what the latest generation could do.

Liang Geliang, who played against the U.S. team in Beijing in 1971, told Xinhua the event not only helped the veterans revive old memories, but also strengthened ties among the younger generations. He hoped the younger generation would make continuous efforts to pursue the ping pong spirit and deepen the friendship between two peoples.Yang Jun, another eye-witness to the historic "Ping-Pong Diplomacy," told Xinhua she noticed table tennis had gained more popularity in the U.S.

"I saw President Obama playing ping pong on TV recently, and I wish USA Olympic Table Tennis Team good luck in the next Olympic games," Yang said.

As the 1971 U.S. team's youngest member, Judy Hoarfrost's memory of the trip is still fresh, she told Xinhua her life had changed after the visit and she became famous in the U.S.

"You never dream you'll be in the history books," she said.

Hoarfrost, who owns a table tennis business and has sought continuously to promote the sport in the U.S., said the sport had been growing really fast in U.S. from a business perspective.

Guests to the event also viewed "The Emperor's Private Paradise," a unique collection of more than 90 art treasures on loan from Beijing's Forbidden City, and a photo exhibition focusing on the friendship between leaders and peoples of the two nations, as well as economic exchanges in past 40 years.

Milwaukee is the first stop of the national celebration tour of the 40th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy.

Source: Xinhua

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