秦刚大使在中美“乒乓外交”50周年纪念活动的致辞

Remarks by Ambassador Qin Gang at the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”

尊敬的各位来宾，

女士们，先生们，

Dear Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

很高兴和大家相聚在“友谊之州”得克萨斯，隆重纪念中美“乒乓外交”50周年。借此机会，我向当年参与和推动“乒乓外交”的两国人士特别是基辛格博士表示崇高敬意，向长期关心支持中美关系发展的各界朋友表示衷心感谢，向中美两国乒乓球运动员、教练员致以亲切问候。

It is my great pleasure to meet with you in Texas, the “Friendship State”, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of China-U.S. “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”. I wish to take this opportunity to pay high tribute to the Chinese and Americans who were part of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” 50 years ago, especially Dr. Henry Kissinger. I thank all the friends who have cared about and supported the development of China-U.S. relations. My greetings also go to the table tennis athletes and coaches of both countries.

几天前，习近平主席同拜登总统举行视频会晤。习近平主席指出，“过去50年，国际关系中一个最重要的事件就是中美关系恢复和发展，造福了两国和世界。”而这一最重要的事件就是从小小的乒乓球开始的。

A few days ago, President Xi Jinping had a virtual meeting with President Joe Biden. In the meeting, President Xi pointed out, “the most important event in international relations over the past 50 years was the reopening and development of China-U.S. relations, which has benefited the two countries and the whole world.” And this most important event started from a small ping pong ball.

50年前，在冷战的至暗时刻，中美两国年轻的乒乓球运动员以他们的友好和真诚，打破隔绝对抗的坚冰，播下友谊的种子。毛泽东主席、周恩来总理和尼克松总统、基辛格博士等两国老一辈领导人以非凡的战略远见和政治勇气，抓住历史性机遇，安排两国乒乓球队互访，以小球推动大球，拉开了中美关系正常化的序幕，深刻改变了国际政治格局走向，成为一段名垂青史的佳话。

Fifty years ago, at the darkest moment of the Cold War, young Chinese and American table tennis players broke the ice of estrangement and confrontation with their amity and sincerity, and sowed the seeds of friendship. The elder generation of Chinese and American leaders – Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Richard Nixon, Dr. Henry Kissinger – showed extraordinary strategic foresight and political courage, and seized the opportunity to enable exchange visits between Chinese and American table tennis teams. The story of “a small ball moving the big ball” ushered in the normalization of China-U.S. relations, and profoundly changed the international political landscape. The story has been passed down until today.

50年来，中美关系历经风雨不断向前发展，取得历史性成就。“乒乓外交”播下的友谊种子已成长为参天大树。中美人民友好始终是两国关系发展的源头活水和不竭动力。

Over the past 50 years, China-U.S. relations have gone through twists and turns and made historic achievements. Today, the seeds of friendship sowed through “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” have grown into a towering tree. The two peoples’ friendship represents a consistent driving force for the development of the China-U.S. relationship.

近年来，中美关系遭遇严重困难，这不符合两国和两国人民的根本利益。改善中美关系是两国人民共同的殷切期待。在视频会晤中，两国元首一致同意，中美双方相互尊重，和平共处，加强沟通，以建设性方式管控分歧，防止冲突，增进合作，推动中美关系重回健康稳定发展轨道。两国元首特别强调，应该鼓励年轻一代更多接触，加强彼此了解。

In recent years, China-U.S. relations have met serious difficulties. This is not in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and a better relationship between us is the shared expectation of the two peoples. In the virtual meeting between the two Presidents, they agreed that China and the U.S. should respect each other, coexist in peace, increase communication, constructively manage differences, prevent conflict, enhance cooperation, and steer China-U.S. relations back on the right track of sound and steady development. The two Presidents particularly emphasized that we should encourage the younger generation to interact more and know more about each other.

习近平主席指出：“未来50年国际关系中最重要的事情是中美必须找到正确的相处之道。”我真诚希望50年后的今天，两国人民特别是年轻人能够了解“乒乓外交”，从中得到历史的启示。有人说今天的美中关系是竞争关系。中国人常说：友谊第一、比赛第二。我们认为，合作共赢始终是中美关系的主流。尽管有时会有竞争，但双方应该像乒乓球运动员一样遵守公认的规则，开展公平、良性的竞争，在竞争中相互尊重，相互欣赏，互学互鉴，共同提高。正如尼克松总统曾说过的，“乒乓球比赛会有输赢，但最大赢家是美中两国人民的友谊”。我特别高兴地得知，中美两国运动员将组队出战本届世乒赛混合双打比赛。

President Xi Jinping pointed out, “the most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be for China and the U.S. to find the right way to get along.” I sincerely hope that in 50 years’ time, the two peoples, especially the young people, will know more about “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” and learn from history. Some people consider today’s China-U.S. relationship as a competitive one. We Chinese often say, friendship first, competition second. We believe that win-win cooperation is always the mainstream of China-U.S. relations. We do sometimes compete, but we should follow the recognized rules like table tennis players, have fair and healthy competition, respect each other, appreciate each other, learn from each other, and make progress together. As President Nixon said, “We know that in the course of your contest, there will be winners and losers. But there is one big winner, and that is more important than who wins a match in table tennis. The big winner, because of this people-to-people contact, will be friendship between the people of the United States and China.” I am particularly glad to know that Chinese and American athletes will team up for mixed doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships.

女士们，先生们，

Ladies and Gentlemen,

50年后，中美关系又处在新的十字路口。中美关系这个大球仍需要乒乓球这个小球来推动，那就是“乒乓外交”所体现出的战略远见、政治勇气和人民友谊。这就是我们今天纪念它的现实意义所在。

Fifty years from the “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”, the China-U.S. relationship is at a new crossroads. Today, the big ball of China-U.S. relations still needs the small ping pong ball to move it forward, from which we see the strategic vision, political courage and people’s friendship reflected in “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” back then, and this is why our commemoration is highly relevant and significant for today.

最后，感谢美中关系全国委员会、两国乒协的精心组织，感谢休斯敦市政府给予的大力支持。预祝本次活动取得圆满成功！预祝中美两国运动员在本届世乒赛中赛出风格、赛出水平！

To conclude, I would like to thank the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and national table tennis associations of the two countries for making this event possible. I also thank the city of Houston for their support. I wish this event a full success, and the Chinese and American athletes the best performance at the World Table Tennis Championships!

谢谢大家。

Thank you all.