Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to a letter from teachers and students of a U.S. youth pickleball exchange delegation from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland.

The group visited China earlier this year as part of the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, a program focused on bringing young Americans to China for educational and cultural exchanges over the next half decade.

Students participated in friendly pickleball competitions with Chinese students in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, and enjoyed a variety of local experiences as well, including city walks, hands-on work with traditional Chinese handicrafts, and a variety of tours, including a trip to the China Table Tennis Museum.

The delegation's letter to Xi expressed gratitude for launching the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, recapped the trip, and discussed the bonds forged with Chinese students through pickleball.

The delegation also shared with Xi an invitation for Chinese students to visit the U.S. so the valuable cultural exchange could continue.

A July 7 story in The Daily Cpec detailed Xi's reply.

"President Xi congratulated the delegation on their successful visit and expressed happiness that pickleball had emerged as a new link for youth interaction between the two countries," the publication explained. 

"Xi emphasized that the future of China-U.S. relations lies in the hands of the younger generation. He expressed hope that the delegation members would serve as a new generation of friendship ambassadors, strengthening ties and understanding between the two peoples," the publication added.

To prepare for the journey, MCPS students practiced at Dill Dinkers and participated in Chinese cultural engagement sessions.

JOOLA provided paddles and apparel for the delegation.

MCPS was the first school district in the country to offer pickleball as a varsity sport.
The program was piloted at 11 high schools in 2023, and expanded to all 25 high schools in 2024.