War veteran and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger met with China's Xi Jinping in Beijing. "On July 20, President Xi Jinping met former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse," state broadcaster CCTV said, AFP reported.
CCTV also reported that since 1971, the Nobel laureate has visited China more than 100 times. The centenarian played an important role in improving relations between the US and China in the 1970s. Kissinger, who, on Thursday, met with China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu, is in the country on a private visit and not on behalf of the US. Kissinger also met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi
In 1971, when Kissinger was US national security advisor, he secretly flew to Beijing in July on a mission to establish relations with China. The trip turned out to be a turning point of sorts, for US-China relations as it set the stage for a visit by president Richard Nixon, who aimed to enlist help to end America's war in Vietnam and shake up the Cold War.
Since leaving office, Kissinger has advised businesses on China and has warned against a hawkish turn in US policy, as per an AFP report.
Kissinger meeting with Jinping amid shaky relations with the US is certainly notable as he did not meet with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen when she visited earlier in the month. Nor did he meet with the US climate envoy John Kerry, when the latter visited Beijing on July 18. Both Yellen and Kerry are serving in current President Joe Biden's cabinet
On meeting Kissinger, Xi said, “We will never forget our old friend and your historic contribution to promoting the development of Sino-U.S. relations and enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples,” CCTV reported. “The US-China relationship is of vital importance to the peace and prosperity of both countries and the world,” Kissinger said.
