INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
table tennis athletes and local enthusiasts gathered in Las Vegas on Sunday to commemorate the 54th anniversary of "Ping-Pong diplomacy,"
highlighting the lasting friendship between the two peoples through sport exchanges.The friendly exchange event was jointly organized by the
Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) and USA Table Tennis (USATT), with support from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco and
the Nevada U.S.-China Cultural Association.Throughout the event, players from both countries, including some world champions from China who
Smash held in Las Vegas on July 3-13, exchanged techniques, while local community members and young enthusiasts also took part in friendly
matches with their idols.Fifty-four years on, the spirit of "Ping-Pong diplomacy" continues to inspire both nations today, Chinese Consul
General in San Francisco Zhang Jianmin said at the event."It reminds us how powerful people-to-people connections can be," he
emphasized.Moreover, "Ping-Pong diplomacy" also "showed us that engagement and communication hold the key to improving mutual
understanding," and that "win-win cooperation is the right path to common development," said Zhang.Wang Liqin, president of CTTA and a
two-time Olympic gold medalist, said that the CTTA is willing to deepen cooperation with the U.S
table tennis community through competitions, youth training interactions and other exchanges."We sincerely invite young friends from the
United States to visit China for exchanges, engage in friendly games with Chinese players, and strengthen our bonds of friendship," he
said.Virginia Sung, CEO of USATT, highlighted the significance of table tennis in building bridges between the two countries."Sport has a
powerful way of bringing people closer
It speaks across languages and cultures and reminds us that even the smallest ball can carry the weight of friendship and understanding,"
