Connie Mae Sweeris and her husband Dell Arthur Sweeris, both witnesses to the 1971 visit, cherished their memories of competing in Shanghai.

"The most precious legacy of ping-pong diplomacy is the fact that I personally made friends with the Chinese table tennis players, and that we've kept that relationship up through the years," Connie said.

She also compared bilateral ties to a marriage, stressing dialogue as essential.

"China-US relations are like a marriage—there will be ups and downs, but the key is to keep communication alive, break down barriers and promote understanding."

Dell, echoing his wife's focus on communication, underlined the ice-breaking role of the 1971 exchange. "Before 1971, there was no relationship between the US and China, and that broke the ice, and the nations began to have communication. That spirit of keeping the communication open is really important."

Looking to the future, Connie emphasized the importance of passing on the spirit of ping-pong diplomacy to the next generation: "I think the young generation needs to learn about the history of where ping-pong diplomacy started and these exchanges, and then carry that spirit forward into the new generations."