1971 年，第31 届世界乒乓球锦标赛期间毛泽东主席作出决定，邀请美国乒乓球代表团访华。这一决定促成了轰动世界的“乒乓外交”，中美关系的坚冰开始融化。 1971 年4 月，美国乒乓球代表团访华进行友谊比赛。对外友协副会长丁西林（后左十）、 美国团长格雷厄姆·斯廷霍文（后右十二）与两国运动员合影。
During the 31st World Table Tennis Championship in 1971, Chairman Mao Zedong decided to invite the US ping-pong team for a visit to China. The decision led to the well-known Ping-Pong Diplomacy. And the ice in China-US relations began to thaw. In April 1971, the US table tennis delegation visited China for a friendship match. CPAFFC Vice President Ding Xilin (tenth from left in the back) meets with the US table tennis team leader Graham Steenhoven (twelfth from right in the back) and Chinese and American players.
During the 31st World Table Tennis Championship in 1971, Chairman Mao Zedong decided to invite the US ping-pong team for a visit to China. The decision led to the well-known Ping-Pong Diplomacy. And the ice in China-US relations began to thaw. In April 1971, the US table tennis delegation visited China for a friendship match. CPAFFC Vice President Ding Xilin (tenth from left in the back) meets with the US table tennis team leader Graham Steenhoven (twelfth from right in the back) and Chinese and American players.
