Fifty-five years ago, a table tennis delegation from the United States arrived in China as the first such team allowed to enter the country since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and players from both nations participated in a friendly match at the Capital Indoor Stadium.

On Friday, a grand commemorative event was held at the same stadium to mark the 55th anniversary of that landmark "ping-pong diplomacy", which helped thaw relations between the two nations.

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the event. Xi's message, which was read out by Vice-President Han Zheng, noted that 55 years ago, the older generation of Chinese and American leaders, with exceptional political wisdom and strategic foresight, reopened the door to friendly exchanges between the two peoples, creating the historical anecdote of "the small ball moving the big ball".

Today, the youth of both countries are continuing this "ping-pong friendship" and engaging in a series of sports exchange activities, which are highly significant for advancing the cause of China-US friendship, Xi said in his message.

"The foundation of China-US relations was laid by the people, and its future will be shaped by the youth," he wrote, expressing the hope that people from all walks of life in both countries, especially the younger generation, would "draw wisdom and strength from history".

Xi also encouraged them to know each other better and grow closer through exchanges and cooperation, move forward hand in hand through mutual learning and exchange, and strengthen the bonds of friendship, "making new contributions to promoting the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations".

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, noted that most guests from the US who attended the commemorative event are young people.

They "have arrived in China during the vibrant spring season, and they are sure to bring the message of spring back to their families and friends", Yang said.

The crowd at the venue, particularly young students from both countries, went into a frenzy when four of the participants of the friendly matches held 55 years ago — Liang Geliang and Zheng Minzhi from China and Judy Hoarfrost and Connie Sweeris from the US — played another brief friendly match on the stage.

Many among the spectators became visibly emotional when the quartet chorused the time-tested slogan of sporting spirit: "Friendship first, competition second."

Sweeris said she had captured many unforgettable moments with her camera 55 years ago, and she has set up a special display of those images at home.

"There I keep the trophies that my husband and I won, as well as all the souvenirs related to 'ping-pong diplomacy'. They help me remember those days, those seven days that were enough to cherish for a whole lifetime," she said.

Chris Oniya, secretary-general of the University of International Business and Economics Alumni Association, who attended Friday's event, said he was amazed to see how the two countries enhanced their relationship 55 years ago by playing table tennis and how they still communicate through sports.

Echoing President Xi's call for promoting mutual learning between the younger generation of the two countries, Oniya said: "The youth will drive the future, and they're the ones who are showing us the direction. So I think it's very important we continue to empower the youth and try to learn from them."

Kent Watkins, chairman of the American Academy of Housing and Communities, said that China and the US should "continue to work together", and share their knowledge and expertise, in order to "get us to the next era".