8. In 1971, the famous “Ping Pong Diplomacy” (photo) broke the deadlock in the Sino-USA relationship, leaving a splendid page in the New China history of exchanges with foreign countries. Along with the changes of the international situations and continuous improvement of the country’s international standing, China restored its rightful seat in the United Nations (UN) in 1971. Many countries set up diplomatic relations with China and launched cultural exchanges with China.

9. In 1971, China Shanghai Dance Drama Troupe visited Japan. The troupe, headed by Sun Pinghua, went into contact with a wide range of people in and outside the administration, and people friendly to China from all walks of life, to positively promote normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties.

10. In 1972, Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe of China visited the United States. As the first Chinese culture and art troupe visiting the United States after the founding of New China in 1949, Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe was heartily welcomed in the four-week performances in the United States. It went on with performances in Canada afterwards.

11. In 1974, China exhibited unearthed cultural relics in Western Europe, the United States, Japan, Yugoslavia, Romania and Mexico. The items on display included such rare treasures as Gold Silk and Jade Clothes, Galloping Horse Stepping on a Swift Flying Swallow, and Bronze Chime Bells. They presented China’s centuries-old histories, splendid cultures, and government policy on cultural relic protection. The exhibitions, well received in these countries, were eulogized as “diplomacy of cultural relics”. They attracted more than 10,000 audiences when displayed in France, Britain and the United States, respectively.

12. From 1972 to 1977, the Central Philharmonic Orchestra, China Shanghai Acrobatic Circus, China Beijing Art Troupe, China Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe, and Tianjin Song and Dance Troupe visited Japan.

In the 30 years from the establishment of New China in 1949 to the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy in late 1978, China’s cultural exchanges with other countries, having gone through many difficulties, played an important role to break the blockade imposed by the imperialists, expand the influences of New China on the international stage, and create favorable international environments for peaceful construction of socialism. It also enhanced friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese people and people of other countries, cultivated and tempered ranks of cadres for cultural undertakings and cultural exchanges with other countries, and expedited the mushrooming of a large number of first-class literary and artistic works. China tentatively probed into the mechanisms of cultural management and cultural exchanges with other countries, which facilitated the development of the cultural undertakings of New China and laid a solid foundation for the booming cultural exchanges with the outside world along with the reform and opening up in the late 1970s.

Editor: Wen Yi