Remarks by Ambassador Tan Jian
at the Medal Ceremony of 2022 Panda Cup Table Tennis Tournament
June 12th, 2022
Ouwehands Dierenpark, Rhenen
Dear Mr. Achim Sialino, Director of NTTB,
Dear Mr. Hans van der Pas, Mayor of Rhenen,
Dear Mr. Robin de Lange, Director of the Ouwehands Zoo,
Dear Mrs. Gerrie Willems, Mr. Eric, Colleagues from the MFA
Distinguished guests, Dear friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
My warm welcome to all of you. And cordial congratulations to all players participated in the tournament!
My sincere thanks to our partners for organizing this event together, among them are VTV Table Tennis Club, Ouwehands Zoo, Dutch Table Tennis Association, and volunteers.
Since 2017, we have held three Panda Cup tournaments to celebrate our relations -- and friendship.
This year, we gathered again at this beautiful and vibrant city of Rhenen for the 2022 Panda Cup.
We are delighted to have nearly 50 table tennis enthusiasts from China, the NL and other countries to compete at the tournament.
It’s not just about competition, more about friendship.
Distinguished guests,
Panda, ping-pong are so closely -- and maybe exclusively associated with China.
These two words will immediately bring China to our mind.
I am so happy that the Panda Cup is held here, where the panda Wu Wen, Xing Ya and their baby are living.
Panda is the most-loved animal in China, and loved by so many in the world.
Panda is vegetarian, only eats bamboo, a fast-growing plant.
Panda is black and white, simple rather than camouflage and confusing coloured.
In our part of the world, there is neither gorilla nor lions.
So, it may not be fit to call China an 800-pound gorilla or a sleeping lion.
Well, we are pandas.
Ping-pong is the most-loved and the most popular sport in China.
We Chinese are so competitive in ping-pong that can sweep all medals in the Olympics.
Yes, we are very stong in ping-pong because we put the tennis on the table. But once the table is removed, it could be a different story.
We know our weakness.
Dear colleagues,
Allow me to say a few words on the Ping-Pong Diplomacy took place 51 years ago.
The chance contacts of the China and US ping-pong players, and exchanges of visits of the two teams, helped break the ice between the two countries.
It was then followed by US President Nixon’s historical visit to China, which is called a “week that changed the world”.
In China it is called “a small ball moving the big ball”.
We may not underestimate the force of the small ball of ping-pong.
This year marks the 50 Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations.
On May 18, the leaders of our two countries exchanged congratulatory messages and expressed readiness to consolidate and further develop our relations.
We are happy with the huge achievements over the past five decades.
We are each other’s major trading and investment partner.
Our trade volume has grown nearly 1,700 times, from less than $69 million in 1972 to over $116 billion in 2021.
Among all the EU countries, the Netherlands is the largest destination of Chinese investment, and the second largest source of investment to China.
At Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the Netherlands sent the largest delegation in history and won 8 gold medals.
Facing the common challenges of Covid-19, people from all walks of life of the two countries have rendered each other great support.
And the baby panda, Fan Xing, was born in 2020.
At the same time, we are fully aware of the challenges ahead.
We need to redouble our efforts to enhance our understanding and promote trust.
Dear Friends,
A Chinese saying goes that, the affinity of people holds the key of state relations.
Sports transcends national boundaries.
A small ball can change the world, like that in 1971.
Today, we may need this kind of imaginative and bold diplomacy, like that of ping-pong, to help address the grave challenges.
Sorry for being a bit political.
I believe we all like ping-pong, and we all like panda.
Competition and friendship could and should go hand-in-hand.
I wish peace would return to Europe.
I wish the world more united, not divided.
I wish international cooperation would be strengthened, not weakened.
I wish the momentum of Sino-Dutch relations could be maintained and enhanced.
I wish everyone present happy and healthy.
Thank you for your participation and contribution.
Thank you all.