Beijing: The 100-year-old Henry Kissinger was met by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in Beijing, according to state media, who called him a "legendary diplomat."
During his visit, Kissinger pushed for improved relations between the two countries, which are still at odds over a number of issues, including trade, national security, and human rights.
It coincided with John Kerry's visit and came after recent trips by Janet Yellen, the secretary of the Treasury, and Antony Blinken, the secretary of state.
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According to state broadcaster CCTV, President Xi Jinping had a meeting with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on July 20 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Kissinger is credited with helping to normalize relations between China and the US in the 1970s.
The meeting took place in building number five of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, which is also where Kissinger and then-premier Zhou Enlai met in 1971. China's state media did not provide any additional information on the meeting.
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Kissinger, a national security adviser for the US, flew covertly to Beijing in July 1971 with the goal of establishing ties with communist China.
That journey prepared the ground for a historic visit by former US president Richard Nixon, who aimed to end the Vietnam War and shake up the Cold War. China's rise to become a manufacturing powerhouse and the second-largest economy in the world was aided by Washington's outreach to an isolated Beijing. Nobel Peace Prize winner Kissinger has made a fortune advising businesses on China since leaving office and has cautioned against a hawkish shift in US policy. According to CCTV, Dr. Kissinger has traveled to China more than 100 times since 1971.
"The legendary diplomat celebrated his 100th birthday on May 27 this year, and this visit is also his first trip to China since turning 100," the statement continued. Defense Minister Li Shangfu was told by him on Tuesday, according to state news agency Xinhua, that "Kissinger said in today's world, challenges and opportunities coexist, and both the United States and China should eliminate misunderstandings, coexist peacefully, and avoid confrontation."
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Top diplomat Wang Yi, who met with Kissinger on Wednesday, praised Kissinger for his "historic contributions to the ice-breaking development of China-US relations."
Kissinger-style diplomatic acumen and Nixon-style political bravery are required for US policy toward China, according to Wang.