Norm Coleman - United States Senator - Minnesota
Bio:
Bio
Welcome Message
Accomplishments

Constituent Services:
Federal Grants
Service Academy
Flag Requests
Tour Information
Internships
Small Business
Visiting Washington
Passports
Casework
Special Greetings
Government Publications
Government Resources

Legislative Info:
Issue List
Recorded Votes
Committee Assignments
Senate Schedule

News:
Press Releases
Audio/Video Clips
Floor Statements
News Articles
Speeches
Photo Albums

Events:
Legislative Calendar
Whip Notices

State Profile:
Minnesota History
Minnesota Delegation

Contact:
DC and State Offices
Contact Form
Newsletter Signup
Privacy Statement

Committees:
Committees
News


Album: August 2006
Last updated on 08/28/2006


 « Previous Page  Page 1 of 1  Next Page » 
[Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photos]
During his Congressional visit to China discuss emerging global energy, investment and international security issues with members of the Chinese parliament and government, Senator Norm Coleman played in series of exhibition matches with current and former members of the Chinese National Table Tennis team. “Ping-pong diplomacy”, which began in 1971, has consistently been recognized as a watershed moment in U.S.-China relations, which led to high-level exchanges between the Nixon administration and the Chinese government. Among the members Coleman played against yesterday was Mr. Zhang Xielin, a former World Champion and member of the 1971 ping pong diplomacy team. In addition to playing Xielin, Coleman also played against current national team members Wang Zhen and Vang Xi at the National People's Congress Convention Center. At the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Japan, the Chinese National Table Tennis team extended an invitation to the U.S. team to visit the People's Republic of China. On April 12, 1971 they became the first American group to enter mainland China since Mao Zedong’s communist forces overthrew the Nationalist government led by General Chiang Kai-shek in 1949. This helped pave the way for the normalization of bilateral relations. That fall, U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visited China, followed by a visit by President Richard Nixon in 1972 - the first American president ever to visit China.

Coleman honors ping pong diplomacy during Congressional trip to China
[Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photos]
 « Previous Page  Page 1 of 1  Next Page » 


   


Home | Graphic Version | Privacy Statement