Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that confrontation does not serve the interest of either the United States or China even as they face new choices in their relations.

Wang made the remarks at a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Beijing.

Wang rejected attempts he said were being made by some U.S. political forces to try to change the direction of bilateral ties and push China and the U.S. to confront each other. Their efforts, he continued, are "against the trend of historical development and progress."

Confrontation between the two countries, in the minister's words, is not in line with their national interests, nor is it in line with the aspirations of the world's people. He called for dialogue that would deepen mutual understanding.

Wang urged the two sides to work on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. He urged the U.S. to abandon any Cold War mentality and prejudices and jointly push forward bilateral relations featuring coordination, cooperation and stability.

Wang spoke of his gratitude for Kissinger's contribution to interpreting and pushing forward China-U.S. relations, calling him a pioneer in Sino-American relations and the Chinese people's old friend.

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, the foreign minister said he hoped the 96-year-old will continue to play an irreplaceable role in the smooth and healthy development of those relations.

Kissinger responded that he believes China-U.S. relations are important for world peace, stability and progress. If China and the United States fall into conflict, the whole world will be negatively affected because other countries will have to choose between them.

He hoped the two sides can think from a long-term perspective and solve disputes through dialogue.

(Cover: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 22, 2019. /Reuters Photo)