During his stay in Shanghai, Levine played multiple exhibition matches with Chinese table tennis players. He noted that on-court interactions require few words to foster mutual understanding and respect.

At its core, sports exchange is direct person-to-person communication. Ping-pong diplomacy, initiated by young athletes 55 years ago, sets a clear example for cross-border exchanges today.

"The young generation needs to learn about the history of where ping-pong diplomacy started and these exchanges, and then carry that spirit forward into the new generations," Connie Mae Sweeris, a member of the 1971 US Table Tennis Team delegation to China, said.

"They can teach their young people, their own children, what has gone before them, and hopefully they'll carry that spirit through," Sweeris added.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.