FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ‘APRIL 18, 1972 OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY ‘THE WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE OF REMARKS BETWEEN ‘THE PRESIDENT AND cuunc TSE~TUNG AT A RECEPTION FOR THE TABLE TENNIS TEAM FROM ‘THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA THE ROSE GARDEN ‘THE PRESIDENT: Ladies and gentlemen, and menbers of the Chinese table tennis team, I am delighted to have ‘the opportunity to welcome this team to the United States. It is hard to realize that it was just a year ago that the American table tennis team, with Mr. Steenhoven and his group, were welcomed in the People's Republic of China. Premier Chou En-lai welcomed our American players, and as the President of the United states, on behalf of all the American people, I welcome all the representatives of the Chinese team. We know that in the course of your tour of the United States you will receive a good welcome. We know, too, that in the course of your contest there will be winners and losers. But there is one big winner, and that is nore important than who wins a match in table tennis. the big winner, because of this people-to-people contact that you are initiating between our two peoples, will be friendship between the people of the United States and the people of the People's Republic of China, Friendship betwoen our two great peoples will mean a better chance for peace for all the world. And now we thank you for making this long journey. We hope that you continue to have great success and receive a warn welcome, and at the conclusion of our remarks, we want you to have a special tour of the White House. MR. CHUNG: Mr. President, after our arrival in the United States, the Chinese table tennis delegation visited the industrial city of Detroit, and also Willians- burg, an old, historical town which played a progressive role in the War of Independence, and on the 16th wa have arrived here in Washington, the U.S. Capital. During our visit, we have had friendly contacts with students, players, workers, faculty members and school teachers, and were accorded a warm welcone by then all. We have personally felt the friendly sentiments of the American People toward the Chinese peopls This time last year the U-S. table tennis team, headed by fir, Steenhoven, made a friendly visit to china, and today, in the warm spring season, when flovers are in £411 Bloon, the Chinese table tennis delegation is here on a visit, %