STORY: 53rd anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" commemorated in Los Angeles
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 23, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:27
LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, U.S.
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event

STORYLINE:

Hundreds gathered at Los Angeles County's Pacific Palms Resort on Sunday to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of China-U.S. "Ping-Pong Diplomacy." Chinese and American lawmakers, diplomats, and world champions were in attendance.

In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. Table Tennis team took a historic trip to China, becoming the first delegation of Americans to visit China in decades.

The trip was the beginning of what became known as "Ping-Pong Diplomacy," which led to improved people-to-people understanding and cultural exchange between China and the United States. 

Gene Sykes, chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Board of Directors, said at the event that "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" was "a pivotal moment that transcended sports and diplomacy."

The U.S. Olympic official said that the impact of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" opened doors for collaboration and exchanges between China and the United States, continuing to shape mutual relations while inspiring people to create a more harmonious world.

Meanwhile, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun said at the reception that "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" was "an iconic moment in the China-U.S. relationship."

"In the past 45 years, although the relationship between the two countries has gone through ups and downs, it has always kept moving forward," Guo said, noting that China-U.S. win-win cooperation was not only in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also aligned with the trend of the times.

The common interests of the two countries had not decreased but increased, the consul general remarked, calling for drawing wisdom and strength from "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" for a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship. Guo said that this was the right choice for the two countries, their peoples, and the world.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Los Angeles, U.S.
(XHTV)