Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who spearheaded efforts to institute diplomatic ties between Beijing and Washington in the 1970s.
Xi said that China will work closely with the United States at a new starting point to maintain the smooth transition of ties and stable growth amid the transition period as the US readies itself for its 45th president to take office.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, December 2, 2016. /Xinhua Photo
Kissinger is no stranger to China, which he secretly visited in 1971 to pave the way for the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties in 1979. His first trip contributed to the historic visit of former US President Richard Nixon to Beijing in 1972.
During their meeting on Friday, Xi expressed his appreciation to Kissinger's contribution to Sino-American relations over the past years, saying the sustained, healthy and stable growth of China-US ties meet the fundamental interests of the two peoples and has helped with peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
"The development history of China-US ties since the forging of diplomatic ties has proven our common interests far outweigh the differences," Xi said.
In their over one-hour-and-a-half meeting, Xi said the two countries should properly handle their different views and divergences in a constructive manner.
For his part, 93-year-old Kissinger told Xi that he is thankful for the Chinese president to meet with China’s old friend, noting that he believes it is the expectation of the US new administration to facilitate sustained, stable and better growth of bilateral relations between the countries.
File Photo: Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger meets with Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing, November 24,1973. /CFP Photo
US President-elect Donald Trump paid a visit to the strategist after his victory in the elections last month, and the conversation the two held touched upon relations with China.
Speaking with CNN, Kissinger described Trump as the “most unique” president-elect in his lifetime. “He has no obligation to any particular group because he has become president on the basis of his own strategy.”
“Overall, we hope to see the China-US relationship moving ahead in a sustained and stable manner,” Kissinger told Xi during their meeting.
(With inputs from Xinhua news agency)
