China-US Ties: UN commemorates 'Ping Pong' diplomacy in New York

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To the United Nations in New York, where "Ping Pong" diplomacy commemorations have been held. Officials and table tennis champions were marking that time in the early 1970s when China and the United States ended a two-decade diplomatic stand-off with international competitive ping pong matches. CGTN's John Terrett reports from the UN headquarters.

Do you recognize this man? You've seen him countless times on TV at the United Nations. It's China's ambassador to the UN—showing away from the Security Council that he's a pretty mean ping pong player. A real crowd favorite. The UN Table Tennis Club team is playing a team of former and current Chinese champions in one of the many lobbies—here at UN HQ on Manhattan's East Side.

WANG HAO TABLE TENNIS WORLD SINGLES CHAMPION "I'm really excited and I'm really impressed that so many People at the UN are fans of table tennis. I'm very happy to see that a lot of them have come today to play with us and to watch these wonderful games."

The game is fast and furious—and much more fun when seen in real life rather than on the Telly.

JOHN TERRETT NEW YORK "The sign says it all it is 45 years since the first Chinese Ping Pong delegation came here to UN headquarters in New York City and that's what today is celebrating."

It was 1972 and China and the US weren't on speaking terms – hadn't been for years – until a ping pong team from the US visited China and the Chinese team came here. It may be coincidental, but within a year President Nixon was in China, inaugurating a new era in diplomacy between Beijing and Washington.

WANG HAO TABLE TENNIS WORLD SINGLES CHAMPION "I'm really proud to be a player of table tennis because it has played a major and historic role in the relationship between China and the USA."

Among the guest players on the UN side—Team USA's Yijun Feng who had a few tips for aspiring players.

YIJUN FENG US OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBER "I'd say fifty percent mental and then fifty percent physical if you're only good at the physical skills you're not getting anywhere."

Of course, an empty table tennis table...was far too tempting an opportunity. I challenged Yijun Feng to a knockabout.

NATSOT FULL: "Let me warn you young man, I used to be good at this game when I was your age. OK. Yes, it always overshoots!"

I gave him a run for his money, but in the end he finished me off with a mighty forehand! And so on the eve of the 72nd annual General Assembly, you have to wonder if nations might be better off settling their differences over a game of ping pong rather than upstairs in the Security Council chamber. Now that's quite a thought! John Terrett, CGTN, New York.