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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. |
[1] Zhou Enlai meet American Ping Pong team. 1971.
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Yanks in Peking. 26 Apr. 1971. TIME
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Bettmann. US Table Tennis Team at Summer Palace. 16 Apr. 1971. Getty Images
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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
 [2]Chinese Ping-Pong Team Visited the U.S. Apr. 1972. Wangyi
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Return Trip
A reciprocal invitation was quickly arranged for the Chinese team for the following year. When they went to Washington, President Nixon met the delegation in the Rose Garden. In his welcoming speech, he said there would be winners and losers in the matches, but because of the people-to people contacts the players were initiating , "the big winner will be the friendship between the people of the United States and the People's Republic of China,” as it provided “a better chance of peace.” |
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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
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