On April 16, the Ningxia People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries hosted the China-U.S. Youth Table Tennis Friendship Match with the theme of “Meet in Beautiful Ningxia, Carry Forward the Table Tennis Friendship.” Judy Hoarfrost, a witness to the historic ping-pong diplomacy, led a U.S. delegation to the event. Eight young American table tennis players joined eight young athletes from Ningxia University to form competing teams, with over 100 table tennis players and enthusiasts participating in the match. Zhuang Yan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningxia Committee, and Ma Zongbao, Vice Governor of Ningxia, attended the event. Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office and President of the Ningxia People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, presided over the match.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. ping-pong diplomacy. 55 years ago, China-U.S. ping-pong diplomacy used the “small ball to move the globe,” becoming a historic moment in bilateral relations. Table tennis has long transcended the realm of sports in the history of China-U.S. relations. 55 years later, a new generation of Chinese and American table tennis players gathered in beautiful Ningxia to renew the legacy of ping-pong friendship. On the court, they competed with passion; through exchanges and matches, they grew closer and developed mutual understanding; by learning from each other, they moved forward hand in hand. The players built friendships through the sport and opened their hearts to one another, carrying forward the spirit of ping-pong diplomacy. Their youthful energy made them ideal goodwill ambassadors between China and the United States, vividly embodying the belief that “the foundation of China-U.S. relations was laid by the people, and their future will be shaped by the youth.”

Judy Hoarfrost shared fond memories of her personal experience during the ice-breaking period and noted that the torch of people-to-people friendship has been passed down and it is now time to hand over the baton to the younger generation. She expressed great delight in seeing young people from both countries deepen their understanding and friendship through interaction at the match, forming strong bonds in just a few hours.

The U.S. college table tennis team visited Ningxia for the first time as part of their trip to China. After the friendship match, the team toured several sites, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs, Jade Vineyard, Beryl Yanhongzishu Goji Estate, and the Shapotou Nature Reserve, to gain a deeper understanding of Ningxia’s history and culture.