Washington (People's Daily) – On May 30, the Embassy of China in the United States hosted a night of pickleball and the premiere of a student documentary about their recent trip to China. Members of the American youth pickleball delegation, together with their families, attended a large gathering at the Chinese Embassy to revisit their memorable China trip.
On May 30, the Chinese Embassy in the US holds the Pickleball Night and the premiere of Journey to China. Guests and students take a group photo at the event. (Photo: Li Zhiwei/ People's Daily)
In recent years, pickleball has emerged as a people-to-people bridge between China and the US. Young people from both countries have taken part in a wide range of exchange activities centered on sports. Many American students have visited China and brought back lasting memories. During the journey, young people from China and the US bonded over pickleball and built genuine friendships.
Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, delivers a speech at the pickleball event on May 30. (Photo: Li Zhiwei/ People's Daily)
Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng and his wife, Wang Dan, attended the event. In his remarks, Ambassador Xie noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from Chinese and US students, in which he pointed out that the initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over five years had reached its goal two and a half years ahead of schedule.
Xie underscored that this is more than an inspiring number but a powerful example of young people from our two countries reaching out to one another across the Pacific, and a youthful promise for the future of China-US relations. Through pickleball, young Chinese and Americans developed sincere friendships, learned from each other, experienced an open China, connected with one another and built bridges of communication.
Xie noted that pickleball has brought young people from China and the US closer together. Half a century ago, table tennis, a small sport, built a bridge of communication across the Pacific Ocean. Today, pickleball is drawing a new arc for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the new era.
Chinese and American youth compete in the pickleball friendly match on Aug 31, 2025. (Photo: Li Zhiwei/ People's Daily)
Originating in the US, pickleball has gained strong popularity across China. It has been incorporated into physical education curricula at primary and secondary schools in Guangdong, Henan, Shandong and other provinces.
Xie Feng said that from table tennis to pickleball, the paddles may change, yet the shared aspiration for friendship between the two peoples remains unchanged.
Xie Feng pointed out that China-US relations stand at a new historical starting point. Now it is up to us to follow the direction set by our two presidents. Xie said, "Let us work together toward a relationship with cooperation as the mainstay, competition within proper limits, manageable differences and sustained peace. In this way, we can advance the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations and explore the right way for China and the US to get along in this new era."
During the Pickleball Night event at the Chinese Embassy on May 30, American high school students experienced Dragon Boat Festival traditions and learned to make zongzi. (Photo: Li Zhiwei/ People's Daily)
Jeffrey Sullivan, director of systemwide athletics for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), told reporters at the event that pickleball has built a lasting friendship bridge between young Americans and Chinese, a development of far-reaching significance. Disagreements are inevitable among countries and individuals. The essence is to seek common ground while reserving differences and strengthening connectivity. He noted that his team would continue advancing youth pickleball exchange programs between the two nations in the months ahead, allowing pickleball diplomacy to turn a new page.
A China-US Youth Pickleball Friendly Tournament is held in Montgomery County, Maryland, the United States, on February 7, 2025. Young players from both countries forge friendships during the event.
During this year's Spring Festival, a 45-member youth pickleball cultural delegation of teachers and students from Montgomery county, Maryland, paid a visit to China. The group traveled north from Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, passing through Shangyou in Jiangxi Province and Hebi in Henan Province before arriving in Beijing. They immersed themselves in the distinctive traditions of the Spring Festival, witnessed dynamic innovation and efficient transport systems across Chinese cities and gained firsthand insight into the country's remarkable progress. Chinese and American students grew close and forged sincere bonds through daily interactions. Isabelle Strouble, a student from Maryland, produced a short film titled Journey to China to document the trip.
Haley Corkery, a student from Sherwood High School in Maryland, has visited China twice. She expressed excitement about rejoining the tour with her classmates this Spring Festival. "I got to experience so much of Chinese culture, especially going during such an important time," she said. "I think these exchanges and pickleball diplomacy are a perfect way to improve our relationships. I think this is a great way to engage our youth and show them how important it is to be friends with people across borders and how meaningful these trips can be. So I think we are doing a great job."
Braelyn Wood, also a student at Sherwood High School, spoke highly of the pickleball-themed documentary Journey to China, which features deep friendship and cultural integration. "It was such a beautiful documentary, full of wonderful connections and a great blend of cultures. We got to see how welcoming the Chinese people were to the American visitors and how they put on performances for them. It was just really beautiful," she commented. Having heard numerous stories about China from her peers who took the trip, she hopes to visit Chinese cities, including Shenzhen someday.
Cordelia Roth from Damascus High School in Maryland joined the China visit this Spring Festival. Her sister, Cadence Roth, said she looks forward to visiting China in the future. Their father, Kris Roth, said the overseas trip is an invaluable opportunity for students who were warmly received by local people. "I think it's all about learning. We are learning about Chinese culture while Chinese people are learning about our culture. In this way, bridges are built between us," he remarked.
A China-US Youth Pickleball Friendly Match is held in Montgomery County, Maryland, the United States, on Aug 31, 2025. (Photo: Li Zhiwei/ People's Daily)
The event celebrated the premiere of the China trip documentary. Chinese and American students actively participated in cultural activities, singing youthful melodies, celebrating their friendship and sharing their aspirations for a brighter future.
Also present were Minister Tang Zhiwen, Minister Counselor Shen Xuesong, Peter O. Moran, chief of the MCPS school leadership and improvement division, and Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council.