From January 3 to 11, a group of university students from China and the United States gathered in Shanghai for a friendly Ping Pong match, in celebration of the 45th anniversary of China-US diplomatic relations.
Photo credit: Office of Global Partnerships, Fudan University
“Our students are very excited to come to Shanghai. I hope this will be a beginning of a revival of really strong and warm people-to-people engagement,” said Stephen Mull, vice provost for Global Affairs, University of Virginia (UVA).
Organized by Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Fudan University and Shanghai University of Sport, the event featured 18 students from the University of Virginia (UVA), alongside their counterparts from Fudan University and Shanghai University of Sport, showcasing the transformative power of shared passions, emphasizing the pivotal role of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening diplomatic ties between nations.
“This is not just about Ping Pong, it’s about connecting with people from different cultures, sharing stories, and building friendships that last beyond the game,” said Abigail Barr, a second-year student from Virginia University, who shared her excitement about the event.
Photo credit: Shanghai Observer
“We encouraged each other during the match, and now we have become friends through Ping Pong, though we didn’t know each other before,” said Cao Yanqiu, an undergraduate from School of Microelectronics, Fudan University.
Their documented experiences, captured through diaries, added a personal touch to the broader narrative of friendship. Wu Yiman, a master’s student in Sports Education and Training at Shanghai University of Sport, expressed the significance of the event: “Through Ping Pong, we learn not only about the game but also about each other's cultures. It's a unique way to foster understanding and strengthen bonds.”
Adding excitation to the event was the presence of Zhang Yining, famous table tennis player and Olympic gold medalist. Her engagement with the students underscored the significant role of sports in building bridges between nations, fostering cultural understanding, and deepening mutual respect.
“As long as young people are together, they will have a lot in common. The key is for us to create better conditions for them,” said Chen Zhimin, Vice President of Fudan University, who believes the China-US youth Ping Pong friendly match sets a positive tone for the 2024 youth exchange between the two countries.
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Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Writer: Chen Shuyang, Wang Mengqi
Editor: Li Yijie
Designer: Ling Yiqi
