Five decades on, Shanghai Communique still resonates among Chinese, Americans

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By Xu Xiaoqing, Wu Yu, Wang Jingyuan and Zhang Yisheng (Xinhua) 09:48, February 27, 2022

Looking back on the past, experts have observed that the normalization of China-U.S. ties has brought enormous benefits to both peoples and the rest of the world, opening a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.

Jeffery Lehman, vice chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, still remembered that a Chinese ping-pong team paid a visit to the United States in April 1972, mentioning that ping-pong and pandas left a good first impression of China on him.

Fifty years later, the most striking significance of the Shanghai Communique is that China and the United States, despite huge differences, should be able to seek common ground while shelving differences, so that bilateral relations can move forward, an expert said.

SHANGHAI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Half a century ago, then U.S. President Richard Nixon landed in Beijing for a historic visit to the People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949, opening what he called a "week that changed the world."

It was on Feb. 28, 1972, as Nixon was about to wrap up his ice-breaking visit, that the Shanghai Communique was issued, a historic document that became the political foundation for the two countries to establish diplomatic ties.

Looking back on the past, experts have observed that the normalization of China-U.S. ties has brought enormous benefits to both peoples and the rest of the world, opening a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.

Photo taken on Feb. 23, 2022 shows the hall of Jin Jiang Hotel in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

HISTORIC VISIT WITH POLITICAL WISDOM

The Shanghai Communique was released in the hall of Jin Jiang Hotel in the eastern Chinese municipality of Shanghai.

He Zhaofa, a former receptionist at the hotel, still has a vivid recollection of how he and his colleagues greeted Nixon 50 years ago.

At that time, there were wide divergences between China and the United States, the 85-year-old man said. "Though the two countries differ in political systems, the two peoples are friendly," he said.

In frigid February, staff members of the hotel served the U.S. representatives with warm tea during their stay, he said.

Photos taken at that time showed Chinese tea was a common sight on such occasions as at a banquet or in a carriage. In Chinese culture, presenting guests with tea represents mutual respect and peaceful co-existence.

Jeffery Lehman, vice chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, makes tea at his office in east China's Shanghai, Feb. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Jeffery Lehman, vice chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, still remembered that a Chinese ping-pong team paid a visit to the United States in April 1972, mentioning that ping-pong and pandas left a good first impression of China on him.

"I happened to love table tennis as a teenager, and my father took me to see an exhibition performed by these incredible players, which was very moving for me, and very important for me," he said.

Lehman, who had spent most of the past 10 years living in Shanghai, said the continuous exchanges between the two countries over the past 50 years were remarkable.

Recently, Lehman was named an honorary citizen of Shanghai for his contributions to helping build the first China-U.S. joint university, NYU Shanghai. He said the university is a result of fruitful cooperation yielded according to the spirit of the communique.

Items commemorating the 50th anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" are displayed at the office of Jeffery Lehman, vice chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, in east China's Shanghai, Feb. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

EXPANDING COOPERATION

In the Shanghai Communique, the two sides agreed that it is desirable to broaden understanding between the two peoples. To this end, they discussed specific areas in such fields as science, technology, culture, sports and journalism, in which people-to-people contacts would be mutually beneficial.

Tong Shijun, chancellor of NYU Shanghai, said he was surprised to hear English audio lectures set up by China National Radio soon after Nixon's visit, adding that audio lectures in other languages such as French and Japanese were also launched.

Tong Shijun (1st L), chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, talks to students at the campus of NYU Shanghai in east China's Shanghai, Feb. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)