Table tennis match celebrates ping-pong diplomacy

A table tennis, or ping-pong, competition in Shanghai on Saturday will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations with the United States, the 46th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s visit to China, and the announcement of a joint communique by the two governments in the city.

Exchanges between table tennis players from the two countries in the early 1970s marked a thaw in Sino-American relations and paved the way for the 37th US president's visit in 1972.

At the end of his visit, the first Sino-US joint communique was announced in Shanghai, playing a crucial role in the establishment of relations between the two countries.

The competition will be held in the Chinese Table Tennis Museum in Huangpu District on Saturday afternoon.

To register for the competition, foreigners can call 1580 1959 676, 1330 1656 958, or 1390 1018 139 until Thursday.

The event is part of programs hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and organized by the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and other organizations to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up.