Xi Meets Kissinger in Beijing

HONG KONG — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with veteran U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger in Beijing on Thursday, calling him an “old friend,” Chinese state media reported. Xi said the visit by Kissinger, who has been to China more than 100 times and recently turned 100 years old, had special significance because of the two “hundreds.” Kissinger, who was President Richard Nixon’s national security adviser at the time, made a secret trip to China to 1971 that laid the groundwork for a historic trip by Nixon the following year and the formalization of relations between the United States and China in 1979. “It not only changed the two countries, but also changed the world,” Xi said, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. Xi said the Chinese people value their country’s friendship with Kissinger and the U.S. “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,” he said. Kissinger said it was a “great honor” to visit China again, noting that his meeting with Xi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where many important diplomatic events are held, was the same place where he met in 1971 with Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier at the time. Kitchen Cabinets In Mexico Might Be Cheaper Than You Think Ad Kitchen Furniture Kitchen Cabinets In Mexico Might Be Cheaper Than You Think “The relationship between the two countries is related to world peace and the progress of human society,” Kissinger said, according to CCTV. The U.S. and China, now the world’s two largest economies, have recently experienced some of their worst relations since diplomatic relations were established amid disputes over trade, human rights and the status of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said this week that the Biden administration was aware of Kissinger’s visit to China but that he was acting “under his own volition, not acting on behalf of the United States government.” Kissinger’s visit to Beijing coincided with one by John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, who met with senior Chinese officials but not Xi. Kerry, whose trip marked the first formal top-level climate diplomacy between the world’s two biggest carbon polluters since talks were suspended last year, ended his trip Wednesday without the two countries issuing a joint statement on climate cooperation. Xi did meet last month with Secretary of State Antony Blinken during Blinken’s long-anticipated visit to China, which was postponed from February due to the Chinese spy balloon incident. Kissinger also met this week with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who is under U.S. sanctions and had rejected a request from the Pentagon for a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in May on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore. “U.S. policy towards China requires Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and Nixon-style political courage,” Wang told Kissinger during their meeting on Wednesday, according to the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Please rewrite this article and please provide by topicsChatGPT

Title: Chinese President Xi Jinping Meets with Henry Kissinger, Acknowledging Historic Contributions to Sino-U.S. Relations

Meeting between Xi Jinping and Henry Kissinger in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently welcomed Henry Kissinger, a veteran U.S. diplomat, to Beijing, referring to him as an “old friend.” The meeting held special significance as Kissinger recently turned 100 years old, and he has visited China over 100 times. Kissinger’s historic visit to China in 1971 laid the groundwork for President Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking trip the following year and the formalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in 1979. Chinese state media reported that Xi emphasized the profound impact of these events, stating that they not only changed both countries but also transformed the world.

Topic: Mutual Appreciation and Friendship

During the meeting, President Xi expressed the Chinese people’s high regard for their country’s friendship with Kissinger and the United States. He conveyed gratitude for Kissinger’s instrumental role in promoting the development of Sino-U.S. relations and fostering friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. Kissinger reciprocated the sentiment, considering it a “great honor” to visit China again and recalling the significance of his previous meeting with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1971, which also took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, a site of many important diplomatic events.

Topic: The Broader Significance of U.S.-China Relations

Both President Xi and Kissinger emphasized the importance of the relationship between the United States and China for global peace and the advancement of human society. Despite recent tensions between the two nations, stemming from disputes over trade, human rights, and Taiwan’s status, they acknowledged the significance of maintaining diplomatic engagement and fostering cooperation.

Topic: Kissinger’s Visit and U.S. Government Position

The U.S. State Department clarified that Kissinger’s visit to China was undertaken on his own volition and not on behalf of the U.S. government. This clarification came amid the context of the Biden administration’s efforts to navigate the complexities of U.S.-China relations and address key issues.

Parallel Diplomatic Engagements

Kissinger’s visit to Beijing coincided with a visit by John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, who met with senior Chinese officials but not President Xi. This marked the first formal top-level climate diplomacy between the world’s two largest carbon polluters since talks were suspended last year. Although no joint statement on climate cooperation was issued, the meetings highlight ongoing efforts to address global climate challenges.

Diplomatic Wisdom and Political Courage

Kissinger also met with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, despite the latter being under U.S. sanctions. Wang praised the importance of Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and Nixon-style political courage in shaping U.S. policy towards China, underscoring the need for measured and courageous diplomacy in addressing complex bilateral issues.

In summary, President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Henry Kissinger, an “old friend” and influential figure in Sino-U.S. relations, provided an opportunity to recognize the historical contributions of their past engagement while acknowledging the challenges in the current bilateral relationship. The meetings also reflected efforts to engage in climate diplomacy and emphasize the significance of wisdom and courage in diplomatic interactions.