Chinese President Xi Jinping met with veteran U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger today, Thursday, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Chinese media reported Xi telling Kissinger, "China never forgets its old friends. We will never forget your historical contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations."
Kissinger also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Li Shangfu in recent days during his stay in Beijing. Kissinger served as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He played a pivotal diplomatic role in normalizing relations between Washington and Beijing in the 1970s and has been visiting China regularly since leaving office.
Washington stated that it was aware of Kissinger's visit to China this week but clarified that he is not doing so as a representative of the U.S. government.
