On the afternoon of December 15, activity marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States was held in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Over 70 people, including President Li Xiaolin, Governor Wang Guosheng of Hubei Province, Mr. Melvin Gilroy, President of the Found of Woodcock Legacy, Mr. Joseph Zadrozny, Consul General of U.S. in Wuhan, attended the event.

Madam Li said in her remarks that Ping Pong Diplomacy not only drew peoples from both countries closer, but also ushered in a new chapter of improvement and development of China-US relations. Now China and the U.S. are committed to building a new type of major country relations. People-to-people diplomacy will exert great influence on the exchange and cooperation of the two sides. It is hoped that the establishment of the US-China People-to-people Association of Table Tennis will serve as an important bridge to deepen people-people exchanges and contribute to the healthy development of China-US relations.

Governor Wang Guosheng said that thanks to the continuous improvement and development of China-US relations, Hubei and the U.S. have deepened their exchanges in such fields as economy and trade, science and technology, education and culture. Hubei province is becoming an important gateway of central China to the United States. It is hoped that the US-China People-to-people Association of Table Tennis could make new contribution to the healthy and stable development of China-US relations, and add new vitality to the friendship between the two peoples.

The US-China People-to-people Association of Table Tennis is a non-profit and non-governmental organization which is based in San Francisco. The Foundation of Woodcock Legacy is named after the first US Ambassador to China Leonard Woodcock, whose mission is to promote the cultural, educational and scientific exchanges between China and the U.S.

On the morning of December 16, some participants of this event paid a visit to the Li Xian’nian Memorial Garden in Hong’an County, Hubei Province.