Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Inside Washington email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Chinese leader Xi Jinping told former top U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger on Thursday that relations between the two countries are at a crossroads and both sides need to “make new decisions” that could result in stable ties and “joint success and prosperity.”
The 100-year-old Kissinger is revered in China for having engineered the opening of relations between the ruling Communist Party and Washington under former President Richard Nixon during the Cold War in the early 1970s.
Xi, who is head of state, party general secretary and commander of the world's largest standing military, met with Kissinger in the relatively informal setting of Beijing’s park-like Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, with Chinese senior diplomat Wang Yi also in attendance.
“China and the United States are once again at the crossroads of where to go, and the two sides need to make new decisions,” Xi said, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“Looking into the future, China and the United States can achieve joint success and prosperity,” Xi said.
Recommended Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
Kissinger’s visit coincided with one by Biden’s top climate envoy, John Kerry, the third senior Biden administration official in recent weeks to travel to China for meetings following Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The flurry of diplomacy aims to restore dialogue suspended by Beijing, mainly over U.S. support for the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan that China claims as its own territory.
Promoted stories
Roundhouse Provisions
Chuck Norris: This 2 Minute Routine Transformed My HealthRoundhouse Provisions Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Referring to Kissinger’s role in initiating China-U.S. relations while serving as national security adviser during the Nixon administration, Wang said he had played an “irreplaceable role in enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries.”
“The U.S. policy toward China requires the diplomatic wisdom like that of Kissinger and political courage like Nixon’s,” Wang said, according to the Foreign Ministry. Kissinger also served as secretary of state under Nixon.
The ministry said the two sides also discussed the war in Ukraine, in which China has largely sided with Moscow, as well as artificial intelligence and other economic issues. Wang told Kissinger that it was “impossible” to transform, encircle or contain China, which Chinese leaders say the U.S. is trying to do in disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and China’s human rights record.
On Tuesday, Kissinger held talks with Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who is barred from visiting the U.S. over arms sales he oversaw with Russia.
China’s Defense Ministry quoted Li as praising the role Kissinger played in opening up China-U.S. relations in the early 1970s, but said bilateral ties had hit a low point because of “some people on the American side who are not willing to meet China halfway.”
U.S. leaders say they have no such intentions and only seek frank dialogue and fair competition.
China broke off many contacts with the Biden administration last August, including over climate issues, to show its anger with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. China claims the island as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, threatening to draw the U.S. into a major conflict in a region crucial to the global economy.
Contacts have only slowly been restored and China continues to refuse to restart dialogue between the People’s Liberation Army, the party’s military branch, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Even before Pelosi’s visit, the U.S. says China declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for top-level dialogues since 2021.
Recommended China looks to Kissinger meeting to improve strained relations with US Trump may be indicted by Jan 6 grand jury as soon as today – live Biden pushes a strong role for unions in tech jobs, even as potential strikes are on the horizon
The wave of U.S. diplomacy has yet to be reciprocated by China, which has its own list of concessions it wants from Washington. U.S. officials, including Kerry, have said they will not offer Beijing any such deals.
Kissinger did not meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has been out of public sight for more than three weeks. Despite speculation about political rivalries and personal scandals, the ministry has provided no information about his status in keeping with the party's standard approach to personnel matters in a highly opaque political system in which the media and free speech are severely restricted.
More about Henry Kissinger AP China Xi Jinping Richard Nixon Wang Yi Beijing John Kerry Communist Party Biden Qin Gang Washington Nancy Pelosi Antony Blinken Janet Yellen Foreign Ministry Taiwan Ukraine Moscow Russia People's Liberation Army
1/ 1China's Xi tells Kissinger that China-US ties are at a crossroads and stability is still possible
China's Xi tells Kissinger that China-US ties are at a crossroads and stability is still possible China US Kissinger
Xinhua
Promoted stories
Healthy Guru
Dermatologist: If You Have Toenail Fungal Infection Try This Tonight (It's Genius!)Healthy Guru| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Babbel
The App That's Teaching Americans Spanish In 15 Minutes A DayBabbel| Sponsored Sponsored
Sign Up
Undo
The chaikin report
"August 23 will change everything," says Wall Street legendThe chaikin report| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Chaikin Analytics
“August 23 will change everything,” says Wall Street legendChaikin Analytics| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Best Hyundai Deals | Search Ads
The New Hyundai Ioniq Is A Jaw DropperThe Remarkable New Hyundai Ioniq Is Here.Best Hyundai Deals | Search Ads| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Health Benefits
Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of DiabetesHealth Benefits | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
GundryMD
Top Doctor: If You Eat Oatmeal Every Day, This Is What HappensGundryMD| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn more
Undo
StreetInsider.com
Take A Look Inside Whoopi Goldberg's Repulsive HomeStreetInsider.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
news Russia-Ukraine: Putin gives chilling warning to Poland
Undo
news Marjorie Taylor Greene faces backlash after showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden
Undo
Gundry MD
Heart Surgeon Begs Americans: “Stop Doing This To Your Fruit”The top 3 common foods that you would have never guessed were the cause of your fatigue.Gundry MD| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Sursell
The best walking shoes suitable for elderly people to wear all day.Sursell| Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Health Insight Journal
This New Device Is Leaving Nеuropathy Experts SpееchlessHealth Insight Journal| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Health Truth Finder
Weight Loss After 55 Comes Down To This Simple Greek MethodHere is a simple breakfast juice method to boost metabolism and drop unwanted pounds super fast.Health Truth Finder| Sponsored Sponsored
Watch Now
Undo
culture Matt Damon says kissing co-star Scarlett Johansson was ‘hell’
Undo
news American tourist in Dublin brutally attacked by group of young people
Undo
HeroInvesting
Your IQ Is Over 140 If You Get Even 5/20 On This QuizHeroInvesting| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
news Right-wing Georgia radio host says he’ll ‘fight no longer’ for Marjorie Taylor Greene
Undo
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in