On April 17, 2026, the Consulate General of China in New York hosted a special event titled “Spinning the World: 55 Years of Ping-Pong Diplomacy”. Nearly 50 participants, including former members of the U.S. National Table Tennis Team, university representatives, and local enthusiasts from various sectors, gathered to compete and celebrate the historic milestone. Some American Ping Pong Diplomacy team members delivered remarks virtually, while others attended in person.

In his remarks, Consul General Chen Li noted that 55 years ago, a ping-pong ball cracked the ice between China and the U.S., creating the legendary story of “the little ball moving the big ball”. He expressed his hope that the young people of both countries will keep that Ping-Pong Diplomacy spirit going, and serve up some great shots for the future of China-U.S. relations.

On the court, players from both countries revisited history and deepened their mutual understanding through friendly competition, embodying the sportsmanship of “Friendship First”. All participants shared a common vision to write new chapters of people-to-people friendship between China and the U.S. across more diverse fields.