CHINESE President Xi Jinping met with former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday to discuss relations between their two countries.
Xi highlighted the meaning of Kissinger’s visit, noting that he is 100 years old and has done more than 100 visits to China.
According to the Chinese president, Kissinger’s meeting with late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse 52 years ago started the process of the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries.
It can be noted, that Henry Kissinger has done secret visits since 1971 as a National Security Advisor of then-US President Richard Nixon and such meetings paved the way for Nixon’s ice-breaking trip in 1972.
The Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is the same place where Kissinger was received as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi also said that China and its people will never forget their old friends.
“I’m really glad to meet Mr. Kissinger. It’s been over three years since our last meeting. You’ve just celebrated your 100th birthday, and I wish you a long and healthy life,”
“There is an old saying in China that ‘great virtues come with longevity’.You are one hundred years old and have paid more than 100 visits to China. The two ‘hundreds’ features a special meaning to your current China visit,” President Xi Jinping said.
“In July 52 years ago, Premier Zhou Enlai met with you here in villa No. 5 of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, which ushered in the process of the normalization of China-US relations.”
“It has a great historic meaning China-US relations were at a turning point back then.”
“The Chinese people will never forget their old friends and China-US relations are always connected with the name of Kissinger.”
“The Chinese people will remember you forever. I have great respect for you,” President Xi added.
Kissinger, for his part, stressed the need for dialogue between China and the US, instead of a confrontation.
Kissinger said that the relations between China and US would be central to peace in the world and the progress of the societies of the two countries.
“Mr. President, it is a great privilege to be able to visit China and it is extraordinarily courteous of you to arrange the meeting in villa 5 of the [Diaoyutai] State Guesthouse, where my first meeting with a Chinese leader took place. The relations between our two countries would be central to the peace in the world and the progress of our societies,” former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, said.
It can be noted that a flurry of American officials went to China for talks, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
