MASTV: The International Table Tennis Federation announced today that table tennis players from China and the US will team up to attend the World Table Tennis Championships in Houston. In 1971, China and the US initiated the normalization process of bilateral relations through Ping-Pong diplomacy. Some people compare the arrangement for this year's championships to "Ping-Pong diplomacy 2.0". Do you agree with this? What inspiration can be drawn to improve China-US relations?

Zhao Lijian: The renewal of the Ping-Pong diplomacy between China and the US is a delightful event for table tennis lovers, the sports community, and people supporting China-US friendship in China and the US.

Fifty years ago, despite the huge differences in political systems, histories and cultures between China and the US, the players went beyond alienation and hostility and exchanged gifts and hugs, showing sincerity and friendship from the bottom of their hearts. The friendly interactions between Chinese and US table tennis players during the World Championships in Nagoya, Japan caused a sensation in the world, touched the hearts of Chinese and American people, and helped to thaw the ice and usher in warmth in bilateral relations. Guided by the political wisdom and the art of diplomacy of transcending differences and seeking common ground by the then Chinese and American leaders, the two sides enabled the little ball to move the big ball, thus initiating normalization of China-US relations. This shows the friendship between Chinese and Americans cannot be stopped by any political barrier.

One most important event in international relations over the past 50 years was the reopening and development of China-US relations, which has benefited peoples of the two countries and the whole world. The most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be for China and the US to find the right way to get along. The review of Ping-Pong diplomacy between China and the US offers inspiration. The most important part is that countries with different historical backgrounds and social systems can well achieve peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as long as they respect each other and treat each others as equals.

The "Ping-Pong diplomacy 2.0" you mentioned is a very good reminder for some in the US. They cannot allow Cold War mentality to dominate China-US relations today, or play the old trick of drawing ideological lines or dividing the world into rival groups. A sound and steady China-US relationship requires "diplomacy 2.0" that meets the desire of Chinese and American people and the trend of the times. The US side should meet its word of not seeking a "new Cold War" with concrete actions.