Beijing News (Reporter Feng Qi) In 1971, a small ping-pong ball bounced on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, carrying the hope that Sino-US relations would enter a new era. The small ball turns the big ball, and Chinese and American table tennis are the media. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the Sino-US Youth Table Tennis Exchange was held at Tsinghua University on January 6.
The scene of the friendship match of the Sino-US youth table tennis exchange activities. Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
Wang Hongwei, Vice President of Tsinghua University, Stephen Mull, Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of Virginia, Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and D**id Meale, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Liang Geliang, the world champion of table tennis and a first-hand witness of table tennis diplomacy in 1971, attended the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Wang Hongwei pointed out that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and over the past 40 years, China and the United States have carried out extensive cooperation in many fields. Young people are the messengers of cultural exchanges, and exchanges between Chinese and American universities will inspire more young people from both countries to strengthen communication and cooperation. Tsinghua University is currently deeply promoting the implementation of the 2030 Global Strategy and the 2030 Innovation Action Plan, and hopes to maintain good cooperation with overseas universities, including the University of Virginia, and contribute to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and promoting the common development of the world.
Stephen Marr said in his speech that the delegation from the University of Virginia came to Tsinghua University to experience China's long history and culture and establish a lasting friendship between the two sides. In the future, we hope to hold more Sino-US student exchange activities to promote more American students to come to China and experience China.
Zhang Qian said that the Sino-US youth table tennis exchange activities are held to promote exchanges and cooperation between the people of China and the United States, especially the young people of the two countries. The future of bilateral relations lies in the youth, and it is hoped that youth exchanges will build more bridges for cooperation and exchanges between the two countries and write a new chapter. In his speech, Mi Dewei pointed out that the exchange between Chinese and American youth is an important part of China-US people-to-people exchanges, and he hoped that this event can promote China-US people-to-people exchanges to a new level.
Yu Hongbo, a student representative from Tsinghua University, and Lv Jie, a student representative from the University of Virginia, shared their expectations and wishes for this event based on their own learning and life experiences. Yu Hongbo said that he was honored to participate in this event and learn skills and understanding of table tennis with his peers from the United States. Lu Jie said that Chinese often say, "friendship first, competition second", and this time I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to come to China and participate in this exchange.
After the opening ceremony, the Sino-American student table tennis friendship match was held in the comprehensive gymnasium of Tsinghua University. There were 12 players from China and the United States, a total of 24 players from each side participated, with a total of 30 games.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Sino-US Table Tennis Diplomacy Exhibition opened at Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University, with more than 50 precious historical paintings vividly showing the friendly exchange history of the small ball turning the big ball and the Sino-US table tennis as the media. Lectures and seminars on "Early Architecture of Tsinghua University and its Relationship with the University of Virginia" and "Sino-US Intercultural Communication and Challenges" were held respectively.
Edited by Miao Chenxia.
Proofread by Jia Ning.