'Ping pong diplomacy' celebrated as China, US play ball

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-07 22:17

The match not only helped the veterans revive the old memories, but also connected the younger generations between the two nations.

As the representative of the US junior players, Ariel Hsing said she was "very excited to be a Ping Pong diplomat."

After winning the 2nd place Women's Singles at US National Championships last December, the 13-year-old was picked to play in Wednesday's friendship match.

Hsing's fast break play on both sides of the paddle enabled her to beat her Chinese opponent Chen Meng in 15-minute-long match.

"I was just lucky to win. She played very well," Hsing said of Chen, a member of Chinese women team wining the 2008 Asia Juvenile Championship.

"Good job," Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Guangya told Hsing, a Chinese American born in San Jose, California.

"The rematch helped pass down the old friendship to the younger generation," said Liang Geliang, a top player who played against the US team in Beijing in 1971.

As the finale of Wednesday's match, Liang and Hsing played together against another pair of Qi and Peter Li, the other junior American.

Their two matches went to the wire and ended in a tie, bringing down the house.

Since her first tour in 1971, Hoarfrost has visited China five times, all in the name of Ping Pong diplomacy.

"So many changes in China. People are much better educated now, have much more communications with other countries. People travel out of China and bring back what they learn. People have many more opportunities to learn."

Changes also took place in the China-US relations over the past 30 years. "We now have a very broad and deep relationship in many different walks of lives, politically, socially, economically, and in terms of science and education," said Negroponte.

Looking to the future, Negroponte said there are "many different possibilities" for the US-China relations. "I am sure the next 30 years will be even better."

"I'm very happy to win. I hope I can make it to the 2012 London Olympics," Hsing said with excitement. "I hope to get involved in Ping Pong diplomacy again."

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