Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Thursday in Beijing.
China's Xi gets nostalgic with 'old friend' Kissinger
"Once again, China and the U.S. are at a crossroads of where to go from here, and once again, both sides need to make a choice," Xi told former U.S. diplomat.
Kissinger played a key diplomatic role in normalising ties between Washington and Beijing in the 1970s when he served as secretary of state and national security advisor in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Noting that Kissinger has just celebrated his 100th birthday and has visited China more than 100 times, Xi said his visit this time is of "special significance."
Kissinger, who is widely respected in China and has paid regular visits since leaving office, said he was grateful Beijing had arranged the meeting in the building where he had met with Chinese leaders during his first visit.
China and the U.S. can achieve mutual success and prosper together, he added, stressing the key is to follow the principles of "mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation."
- Kissinger also met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi and with defence minister Li Shangfu on his trip, which Washington said was a private visit.
- Tensions between the world's two largest economies have heightened over a range of issues, including the war in Ukraine, Taiwan and trade curbs.
Washington has tried to reestablish communication channels on these and other issues through recent high-profile diplomatic visits.
U.S. presidential envoy John Kerry concluded lengthy talks with Beijing on fighting climate change on Wednesday and current Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Beijing last month.
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