Youth Exchanges Key to future of US-China Relations, Ambassador Xie Feng Says
Montgomery County, Maryland, hosted a China-US Amiable Youth Pickleball Competition on Sunday, where China’s Ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, emphasized the crucial role young people will play in shaping the future of relations between the two nations. He stated that the enduring strength of the US-china relationship has historically relied on the goodwill of its citizens and the initiative of its youth.Ambassador Xie highlighted past examples of youth-driven positive engagement, recalling the alliance of American and Chinese forces during World War II and the groundbreaking “ping-pong diplomacy” of the 1970s. He urged continued support for youth exchanges, believing they foster firsthand understanding, build trust through dialog, and inject vitality into the long-term health of the bilateral relationship.
The pickleball competition itself stemmed from a cultural exchange program initiated earlier this year between montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Chinese students. In April,a group of approximately 30 MCPS student-athletes embarked on a 12-day trip to Shanghai,Beijing,and Shenzhen,Guangdong province,combining pickleball play with cultural immersion. The trip, dubbed “pickleball diplomacy” by MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Jeffrey sullivan, included experiences like dumpling-making, exploring landmarks like the Bund and the Great Wall, and observing advancements in AI-powered education and laser engraving technology.
Following the visit, 53 students and teachers from Shenzhen traveled to Montgomery County to participate in Sunday’s event.Ambassador Xie described the competition as a valuable opportunity to reconnect with old friends and forge new ones.He encouraged further exchanges, noting that each interaction strengthens the bond between the two countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of these exchanges in a July letter to the US youth pickleball delegation, encouraging them to act as “ambassadors for friendship” and deepen people-to-people connections. A documentary capturing the April delegation’s experiences premiered in Washington D.C. in July.
Participants echoed the sentiment of positive impact. Jeffrey Sullivan noted that “pickleball diplomacy just became a thing,” while MCPS student Ryan Corkery described the trip as a “crazy, life-changing experience.” Students like Corkery and Trinh Au emphasized the lasting friendships formed through the exchange, maintaining contact with their Chinese peers through social media and building connections that extended beyond the sport itself.Au shared that she and her Chinese counterparts spent an entire day together, forging a connection that went “farther than pickleball.”
This event highlights a growing trend of utilizing cultural and athletic exchanges to build bridges between the US and China at the grassroots level.
