A grand reception was hosted at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
Sunday evening to mark the 30th anniversary of the historic
"ping-pong diplomacy" in China-US relations.
Some 30 years ago in 1971, a US table tennis team paid a visit to
China after many years of estrangement and antagonism between the
two countries, shocking the entire world and also opening the door
for China-US people-to-people contacts. In fall the same year, the
then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visited China, followed
by another historic visit by President Richard Nixon in 1972, which
paved the way for the normalization of bilateral relations.
Prior to attending Sunday's reception, Chinese Vice Premier Li
Lanqing met with Dr. Kissinger, who is currently on a China tour,
and praised his consistent contribution to Sino-US relations, and
expressed the hope that he would continue to play an active role in
this regard.
The scene at the reception was quite memorial: the venue, the No.6
building of the state guesthouse, is where Dr. Kissinger took
residence during his first visit 30 years ago; present at the
occasion were many veteran diplomats and sportsmen who took part in
the "ping-pong diplomacy"; as part of the celebration, a ping-pong
game was held between young Chinese and US students.
In
a toast, President Chen Haosu of the Chinese People's Association
for Friendship with Foreign Countries, a non-governmental institute
hosting the reception, attributed the "ping-pong diplomacy" to the
wisdom and far-sightedness of the leaders of both countries as well
the initiative of non-governmental personages.
He
said that in the past 30 years since then, Sino-US relations,
although mixed with twists and turns, have always maintained the
momentum of contacts and cooperation. China-US relations can't be a
plain sailing due to considerable differences in their social
systems and cultures in addition to influences by world political
changes, he noted.
However, he pointed out, so long as leaders and people of all
social circles from both countries continue the contacts and seek
common understanding through equal contacts based on mutual
respect, bilateral ties will steadily develop and enjoy a bright
future. That, he added, could possibly be the best commemoration of
the "ping-pong diplomacy".
Kissinger, in his toast, said US-China relations have come a long
way since the "ping-pong diplomacy", and during the 30 years since
then, great changes have taken place in China, which fully
demonstrated not only the vision of the Chinese leadership but also
the courage, tenacity and dedication of the Chinese people.
US-China relations should be based on the common interest of the
two peoples as well as the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia
and even the whole world, he said, expressing the hope bilateral
ties would be further improved and consolidated.
(Xinhua 03/19/2001)