On 11 May 2026, the Chinese table tennis team, fresh from winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, visited Loughborough University London for an event marking the 55th anniversary of China-UK “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) Wang Liqin, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University Nick Jennings, and Chief Executive of Table Tennis England Sally Lockyer delivered remarks. More than 200 guests attended the event, including Alan Hydes, a participant in the 1971 “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”, players and coaches from Team England, and students from Loughborough University and the local community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng thanked Loughborough University, Table Tennis England and the CTTA for supporting the event. He noted that in 1926, the International Table Tennis Federation was founded in London and held the first World Table Tennis Championships, and that 100 years later, the Championships have returned to London. He congratulated the UK on successfully hosting the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships. He also warmly congratulated the Chinese men’s and women’s teams on successfully defending their titles after defeating Japan in the finals. He commended the Chinese players for their outstanding skill and remarkable determination, noting that they embodied the Olympic spirit and made the Chinese people proud.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that this year marks the 55th anniversary of China-UK “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”. In 1971, the England table tennis team was invited to visit China, which was followed by a return visit to the UK by the Chinese table tennis team later that year. These exchanges played a unique role in the establishment of China-UK ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations. Sport has long served as a bridge connecting the peoples of China and the UK. The Chinese government supports closer exchanges between the sporting communities of the two sides and encourages broader cooperation between their universities. He expressed his hope that athletes and young people from both countries will continue to use sport as a bridge and contribute to the friendship between the peoples of China and the UK in the new era.
In his remarks, President Wang said that the 1971 “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” opened a new chapter in breaking the ice between China and the UK. This historical episode demonstrates that people-to-people connectivity is the foundation of friendship between countries, and that sporting exchanges are a language that transcends cultural differences. Young people represent not only the future of table tennis, but also the future of China-UK friendship. He expressed his hope that young Chinese and Britons will use table tennis to build bridges and strengthen bonds, overcome prejudice and build trust through exchanges, and bring together the spirit of table tennis, the legacy of friendship and the energy of youth, so that the friendship between the peoples of China and the UK can be passed on from generation to generation.
Alan Hydes, who took part in the 1971 China-UK “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”, Tim Oliver, Director of the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs at Loughborough University London, and Jasmine Pang, a media professional committed to promoting China-UK friendship and people-to-people exchanges, reflected on the historical significance and lasting relevance of “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” and shared their own ping-pong stories with the audience.
During the event, members of Team China took part in an interactive session with members of Team England, staff and students from Loughborough University, and table tennis enthusiasts from various sectors in the UK. In a lively and cordial atmosphere, guests experienced first-hand the unique charm of table tennis and were impressed by the sporting spirit of the Chinese athletes.
