-- 50 years ago, a chance encounter between paddlers from China and the U.S. previewed the "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" that led to the normalization of bilateral ties. 

-- Withstanding the changes in China-US relations for half a century, "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" still has profound implications in an ever-changing world.

By Xinhua writers Su Bin, Yang Kai and Xu Dongyuan

BEIJING, April 10  -- It has been half a century since China invited the U.S. table tennis team for a historic visit, and "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" still has profound implications in an ever-changing world.

On Saturday, a special event was staged in Shanghai in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy."

"The Ping-Pong Diplomacy of 50 years ago is of special significance in the history of China-U.S. relations," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said in a video speech to the event.

"The little ball moves the big ball" is a phrase that Chinese people often use when referring to that historical period, where table tennis became an unlikely diplomatic tool. 50 years later, the little ball is still moving in developing ties between different countries.