In April 2025, a US youth pickleball delegation led by Jeffrey Sullivan visited China as part of President Xi Jinping’s “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, which aims to foster cultural exchange by bringing 50,000 American youths to China over five years. The delegation, comprising 44 teachers and students from 13 US schools, toured Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing, building friendships through pickleball—a sport gaining popularity in China—and cultural activities. President Xi responded to their gratitude letter, emphasizing the importance of youth in shaping future China-US relations and expressing hope that these young people become ambassadors of friendship between the two nations.
The trip was described as transformative by participants, who experienced Chinese culture firsthand and formed lasting bonds through sport and shared experiences. The initiative draws parallels to the historic “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” of 1971, highlighting sports as a powerful tool for international connection and mutual understanding. The delegation’s efforts have led to ongoing partnerships between US and Chinese educational institutions, with pickleball serving as a key platform for continued cultural exchange and people-to-people friendship.
