On August 14, Consul General Zhang Jianmin of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco attended and addressed the Ping-Pong Diplomacy 50th Anniversary event. The full text is as follows:

It gives me great pleasure to attend the ping-pong diplomacy event. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate-General, please allow me to express our congratulations on the success of the event. Our special thanks go to the organizers and all those who have made tremendous effort to make it possible. 

I love ping-pong. I started playing ping-pong at the age of six. I remember my coach interviewed me: “How tall are you? You are not yet as tall as the ping-pong table. Are you sure you want to play?” To this I replied: “The table will not grow any taller, but I will.” Everyone present laughed, and I was accepted by the school team. 

I love diplomacy. Diplomacy helps solve problems and bring peoples of different countries closer. Having been in diplomatic service for thirty-plus years, I am very proud of my modest contribution to mutual understanding and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. 

Last but not the least, I love ping-pong diplomacy. I myself have read the story of ping-pong diplomacy many times, and I have encouraged my colleagues and many ping-pong players to do the same. Every time I read it, I could not but be overwhelmed by the power of goodwill between our peoples. 

It all started with just a genuine smile and a simple hello. Chinese player Zhuang Zedong and US player Glenn Cowan shook hands and exchanged gifts. After that the US team went to Beijing. It took place earlier than Dr. Kissinger’s secret trip to China and put an end to decades of estrangement. Eventually the world witnessed the famous handshake across the Pacific ocean between Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and US President Richard Nixon in 1972. A few years later, in 1979, the two countries established diplomatic ties. 

A small ball thus moved the big earth. Thanks to ping-pong diplomacy, our two countries began to have more interaction. Mutual understanding and cooperation increased. Our two peoples and the whole world benefited. Ping-pong diplomacy has been enlightening and inspiring. 

Unfortunately, however, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nixon visit and the 51st anniversary of ping pong diplomacy, the China-US relationship is now faced with severe challenges. 

One of them is US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan. According to Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, her visit was “utterly reckless, dangerous, irresponsible.” Her visit has interfered in China’s internal affairs, violated United States’ own commitment on one-China, undermined regional peace and compromised global cooperation. It has dealt a heavy blow to China-US relations. 

Here I would like to invite all of you to think about the following questions: what kind of China-US relationship does she really want for our peoples? Has she made our peoples and the world better-off or worse-off by what she chose to do? 

Fifty years ago in China, President Nixon said:“ If our two peoples are enemies, the future of this world we share together is dark indeed. But if we can find common ground to work together, the chance for world peace is immeasurably increased.” 

China-US relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties. It impacts us all. Everybody is a stakeholder. At this critical juncture, the spirit of ping-pong diplomacy is very much needed. Perhaps we could once again start with something small and simple, just like what the two young players did back in 1971. Hopefully, step by step, trust will come back, exchanges and cooperation resume, and our two countries work together to create a better world. 

I remain hopeful. After all, the Chinese and the American peoples are two great peoples, and as two great peoples, we know very well that it is better to be friends than enemies. So let us all try our best to make that happen. 

Thank you.

Consul General Zhang Jianmin delivers a speech at the event

Virginia Sung, CEO of USA Table Tennis delivers welcome remarks

Jan Berris, Vice President of The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations delivers a speech

Dell and Connie Sweeris, former U.S. table tennis national team players share their memories of 

Ping-Pong diplomacy

Dragomir Cioroslan, Director of International Strategies and Development at the 

United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee delivers a speech

Consul General Zhang Jianmin presents the prize to the athletes