From ping-pong to pickleball: China’s unofficial approach to diplomatic messaging

In May, President Xi Jinping of China encouraged stronger ties and mutual understanding between young people from China and the US after receiving letters from nearly 100 American students who participated in a cultural exchange program called Future Makers 2026. The students came from ten universities across the United States, including Harvard University, and visited various parts of China as part of the initiative organized by the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges. Xi's response to these letters highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges in fostering friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The State Council reported that Xi called on the students to work towards advancing cooperation between their countries, reflecting China’s ongoing strategy of using unofficial channels for diplomatic messaging beyond formal government interactions.