The Chinese Embassy in the United States hosted a Pickleball Night event on May 30. In his remarks, Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, said that from table tennis to pickleball, what has changed is the racket, while the shared aspiration of the two peoples for friendship remains unwavering.
On the evening, Ambassador Xie gathered with teachers, students and parents of a U.S. youth pickleball delegation that previously visited China, recalling the wonderful journey of Chinese and American young people who first forged friendship through sports and then built heartfelt bonds with one another.
Ambassador Xie noted that half a century ago, the small table tennis ball built a bridge of communication across the Pacific Ocean. Today, pickleball is drawing a beautiful trajectory for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States in the new era. China and the U.S. are like two sides on a court: while competing in accordance with rules, the two sides must also uphold mutual respect. He stated that competition is inevitable, yet it should be progressive rivalry that spurs each other forward, fair competition abiding by rules, and healthy competition delivering mutual progress, with the goal of becoming better versions of ourselves. This rational understanding of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation holds the key to how major countries should interact, and is also the way to steer clear of the Thucydides Trap.
Ambassador Xie stressed that China and the U.S. differ in history, culture, social systems and development paths. Such differences are no grounds for confrontation, but opportunities for exchanges and driving forces for cooperation. The two sides should keep expanding the list of cooperation areas and narrowing down outstanding issues. He expressed the hope that the U.S. will work hand in hand with China to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at an early date.
Ambassador Xie encouraged young people from both countries to live in the present and look to the future. He called on them to focus on global challenges including climate change, artificial intelligence, public health and food security, and actively practice the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Ambassador Xie said that China-U.S. relations now stand at a new historical starting point, and efforts should be made to advance the stable, sound and sustainable development of bilateral ties.
