On December 8, 2011, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the General Administration of Sport of China held the commemoration on the 40th anniversary of China-US Ping-Pong Diplomacy in the Great Hall of the People. Vice President Xi Jinping and former US President Jimmy Carter attended the event and made speeches.

Xi said in his speech that Ping-Pong Diplomacy not only shortened the distance between the people of China and the US but also opened the historical prelude for the improvement and development of China-US relations. Over 40 years, with the joint efforts of generations of leaders and visionary people from various circles of the two countries, China-US relations have achieved historic development. Today, leaders of the two countries maintain close exchanges and dialogue and the two countries enjoy ever deepening mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade cooperation, steady progress of cooperation in energy, environment, culture, science and technology, law enforcement and other fields and effective communication and coordination in tackling the global challenges of financial crisis and climate change as well as hot-spot issues of the Korean Peninsula and Iranian nuclear issues. Facts have proved that to work together is the only correct choice for the two countries and an irreversible historical trend.

He noted that China and the US, following the consensus reached between President Hu Jintao and President Obama, are working together to build the cooperative partnership of mutual respect and mutual benefit. The two sides must fully learn from the historical experience, seize the hour and the day to strengthen dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation and further tap the huge cooperation potential; properly handle sensitive issues with caution in the spirit of mutual respect and equal treatment and effectively manage differences to ensure that the bilateral ties move forward on a healthy track. Friendship between the people is the inexhaustible source of power and important foundation for the progress of China-US relations. He hopes the two countries further tighten friendship through cultural exchanges and inject lasting and exuberant vitality into the bilateral ties.

Carter said in his speech that China is a great country he had always been admiring. He was very excited hearing that Premier Zhou Enlai invited the American table tennis athletes to visit China in 1971 because he always believes that the US and China should and can become good friends. Then President Nixon visited China and Mr. Deng Xiaoping and he realized the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China in 1979. Today, the two countries are building the bilateral relations of mutual respect and mutual benefit, which not only is beneficial to the US and China but also serves the common interest of the world. The exchanges and friendship between the American and the Chinese people are long lasting and they hope the bilateral relations are maintained and move forward continuously. While the two countries have differences, for instance in the sectors of trade, these differences are trivial compared with the common interests of the two countries. Both countries love peace and hope to live in harmony with neighboring countries, enjoy prosperity with people all around the world and protect the environment of mankind. He will be committed to further advancing the bilateral relations.

Xi met with Carter before the event kicked off. He expressed admiration on Carter's long-term efforts of promoting China-US relations and exchanged opinions with him on further developing the bilateral ties. He hopes Carter to make new contributions to the healthy and stable progress of bilateral relations.

Xi and Carter jointly signed the ping-pong paddles commemorating the 40th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy and watched the friendship match of Chinese and American ping-pong players.