What was important about ping-pong diplomacy apex? The important thing about ping-pong diplomacy was that it helped to improve relations between the United States and China. In 1971, the United States Table Tennis team was invited to China to participate in an international tournament. This visit marked the first time Americans had been allowed in China since 1949, when the Communist party took power. During their visit, the American and Chinese players engaged in friendly games of ping-pong and even exchanged gifts. This unexpected display of goodwill garnered significant media attention and led to further discussions between the two nations. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a historic visit to China, which marked the first time an American president had visited the country since its formation. This visit and subsequent meetings led to the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China. Ping-pong diplomacy played a significant role in breaking down the barriers between the two nations and ultimately paved the way for improved relations in the following decades.