| John D. Negroponte (right), U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, poses with former Chinese ping pong world champion Liang Geliang on January 7, 2009 in Beijing. The Friendship Ping-Pong Match marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-U.S. diplomatic relations was held Wednesday at the State General Administration of Sport in Beijing. In April 1971, nine American table tennis players were invited to Beijing for exhibition games with Chinese players, breaking the ice between the two nations. (Xinhua) |
