On the day of the Spring Equinox, the gymnasium of Liaoning University welcomed a guest from afar–Paul Pinkewich, a former Australian national team table tennis player. Fifty-three years ago, he came to China with the Australian national table tennis team to participate in the China-Australia Table Tennis Exchange Competition, and witnessed the beginning of China-Australia friendship. On March 20, Paul Pinkewich came to Liaoning University. Here, he not only told the university students about the stories of the China-Australia table tennis exchanges he had experienced, but also competed with the teachers of Liaoning University on table tennis skills.

In the gymnasium of Liaoning University, the 73-year-old Paul Pinkewich fondly recalled the scenes of following the Australian national table tennis team to participate in the exchange competitions in Guangzhou and Shanghai in 1971. “I was deeply impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the Chinese people. The Australian national table tennis team was warmly welcomed wherever we went.” What touched him most was that a vast number of people in China then loved table tennis. At that time, there were as many as 7,500 spectators watching the China-Australia table tennis competition in Guangzhou. Through the radio, about 100 million Chinese people listened to the live broadcast of the competition.

While recalling the good memories, Paul Pinkewich expressed his admiration for the achievements in the all-round development of the Chinese society. After returning to China, he visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang, and personally witnessed the remarkable achievements that these cities have made in table tennis promotion and training. “I know that Liaoning is a major sports province in China, and has nurtured many world table tennis champions.” Paul said, “I will make efforts to promote the sports exchanges between my hometown Australia’s New South Wales State and China’s Liaoning Province, and make my best contribution to the China-Australia friendship.”

After the sharing session, Paul Pinkewich took part in a friendly table tennis match with Hou Xiaoxu, a teacher from the Sports Faculty Department of Liaoning University. As a table tennis master, Paul is still proficient on the court, receiving waves of applaud from the spectators. Under his guidance, the young students from both China and Australia also joined in several table tennis exchange matches.

During the trip to Liaoning, Paul Pinkewich also visited the China Industrial Museum, Liaoning Provincial Museum, Shenyang Imperial Palace, Shenyang Sports University, etc. He has fallen in love with Shenyang, the city in Northeast China, after visiting its cultural and sports venues, appreciating the beautiful cityscape, and savoring the local food. “Although the trip is short, the friendship will last forever. I look forward to visiting Liaoning again, and coming to my beloved China again.” Paul said.