Trip
After the tournament in Japan finished, the American team flew to Hong Kong and entered the mainland China. When Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai received them in the Great Hall of People in Beijing[1], he told them, “You have opened a new chapter in the relations of the American and Chinese people. I am confident that this beginning again of our friendship will certainly meet with the majority support of our two peoples.” When the athletes didn’t respond immediately, the Premier pursued the subject: “Don’t you agree with me?” The Americans burst into applause. |
Of course, the Chinese publicized everything that went on very heavily. They treated this group royally with hearts and flowers all over the place and cheers everywhere they went in China. The Chinese table tennis team arranged for them to win many of the matches. They were fed very well. They arrived back in Tokyo on a Saturday evening.
- William Cunningham, American Political Officer at Embassy Tokyo
Audio Translation:
4月18日,理查德尼克松总统在白宫玫瑰园接见正在对美国进行回访的中国乒团。 On April 18, when the Chinese Ping Pong team was visiting America, President Richard Nixon received them in the White house Rose Garden. |
[3]"Ping Pong Diplomacy 1972." YouTube, uploaded by VS08540
|
Jiayong Lu | Senior Division
Website Individual 2018 NHD 2nd Place Winner |
website word count:1197 words process paper word count: 474 words video length: 3 min 55 sec |