ping pong diplomacy

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Chinese and U.S. table tennis players train together in April 1971 in Beijing. April 10 marks the 50th anniversary of what became known as pingpong diplomacy between the two nations. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

World

50 Years Later, The Legacy Of U.S.-China 'Pingpong Diplomacy' Faces Challenges

April 10, 2021 • April 10 marks the 50th anniversary of when U.S. table tennis players first visited China in a diplomatic breakthrough. But today, the political winds have shifted — in both countries.

50 Years Later, The Legacy Of U.S.-China 'Pingpong Diplomacy' Faces Challenges

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Chinese 'Pingpong Diplomacy' Player Dies

In this photo taken in April 1972 and released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Zhuang Zedong, right, shakes hands with U.S. table tennis player Glenn Cowan during a visit to the U.S. Zhuang, a key figure in 1971's groundbreaking "pingpong diplomacy" between China and the U.S., died in Beijing on Sunday. He was 72. Xu Bihua/AP hide caption

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Xu Bihua/AP

The Two-Way

Chinese 'Pingpong Diplomacy' Player Dies

February 10, 2013 • Zhuang Zedong's gift to an American table tennis player paved the way for President Nixon's groundbreaking visit to China. Zhuang was 73.