UVA Table Tennis Team carries on legacy of ping pong diplomacy

In 1972, President Nixon's trip to China marked a major political breakthrough between the two countries. But a year prior, another historic moment helped thaw China-U.S. relations. In 1971, the American table tennis team, which was competing in the world championship in Japan, was invited by Chinese players to visit China. Days later, the American team arrived in Beijing and played in front of a packed audience. They were the first Americans to step foot in China since the founding of the People's Republic. Ping pong diplomacy was born. More than 50 years later, students at the University of Virginia lived that history through sports. #features #bigstory #connectedtochina Watch CGTN LIVE on your computer, tablet or mobile https://cgtnamerica.vhx.tv/videos/hd-live-broadcasts Subscribe to CGTN America on YouTube Follow CGTN America: Twitter: @cgtnamerica Facebook: @cgtnamerica Instagram: @cgtnamerica TikTok: @newstoks This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.