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Amber Wang

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to the US embassy in Beijing on Tuesday to offer condolences over the death of former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, hailing his “objective and friendly” view towards China.
Wang signed a condolence book for Kissinger, who died on November 29 at the age of 100.
The embassy invited members of the public to visit its Beijing American Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday to honour the prominent diplomat who was well known in China for his key role in the normalisation of ties between Washington and Beijing in the 1970s.
Can China emerge from Kissinger’s shadow over foreign policy with the US?
“Time has and will continue to prove that the political decision made by Dr Kissinger and the Chinese leaders back then was in line with the fundamental interests of the people of both countries … and the expectations of the international community,” Wang said, according to a statement released by the foreign ministry.
“Over the years, Dr Kissinger always took an objective and friendly view of China’s development,” Wang said, adding the veteran diplomat firmly believed the two major powers should and must “coexist peacefully”.
Wang praised Kissinger for being “good at finding common ground and cooperation opportunities from the differences” between the two countries, which he said reflected his foresight as a strategist.
US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said on X, formerly Twitter, that he and Wang met during the foreign minister’s visit to the embassy, and the two had a “follow-on meeting on US-China relations” after Wang signed the condolence book.


Kissinger secretly flew to Beijing in July 1971 on a mission to pave the way for the establishment of relations with China, setting the stage for US president Richard Nixon’s historic visit to the country a year later.
Kissinger visited China more than 100 times, with the last trip in July when he met President Xi Jinping, who welcomed him as an “old friend” of the Chinese people.
Earlier this year, Kissinger warned in interviews about the dangers of worsening China-US ties, saying decoupling would lower living standards in both countries.
In his comments on Tuesday, Wang noted that the summit between Xi and his US counterpart Joe Biden in San Francisco last month was conducive to improving relations in a healthy, stable and sustainable direction.
The top diplomat said the two sides should implement the consensus reached by the two leaders. He added that he hoped the US would do more to improve understanding, strengthen cooperation and “take practical actions” to maintain stability and improve the momentum of bilateral ties.
At the embassy, members of the public, including students, businesspeople and scholars, laid flowers and signed the book of condolences for Kissinger, referring to him as a “good friend” of the Chinese people and “a great man of the age”.
“He is an envoy who opened the way for the improvement of China-US relations, very remarkable,” said a woman who gave her name as Huang. She added that she was concerned about bilateral ties.
“I am a mother of three and one of them has become a US citizen, and I do wish for the easing of tensions between the two countries,” Huang said.
One comment in the condolence book said Kissinger “witnessed more than 40 years of mainland China’s opening up and development”.
“You will be remembered by history,” it added.
Other common messages thanked the late diplomat for his contributions and expressed hopes for friendly relations between the US and China.
How Kissinger’s death marks end of an era for US-China relations
A photo of Kissinger attending the 1972 talks between chairman Mao Zedong and Nixon in China was placed at the site.
“He is well known in China. When I was a small kid, I learned about him, and my mother also remembered this great man,” said a Beijing resident surnamed Tang who works in the education industry.
“In the long term, I think China-US relations will head for a brighter path, despite the twists and turns sometimes in the short term.”
Qian Feng, a scholar of international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing, was among the dozens of citizens visiting the embassy on Tuesday afternoon. He said peace and stability were in the shared interests of the two countries, which the “100-year-old man saw clearly”.


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US-China relations

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi visits US embassy to honour Henry Kissinger

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signs a condolence book for Henry Kissinger at the US embassy in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AP

‘There won’t be another Kissinger’: how veteran statesman’s death marks end of era for US-China relations

Henry Kissinger pictured with Mao Zedong in 1975 as president Gerald Ford looks on. Photo: Reuters


An outdoor screen in Beijing shows a news programme discussing Kissinger’s death on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Henry Kissinger: China pays highest tribute as President Xi Jinping sends condolences on passing of ‘old friend’

Robert Daly, pictured interpreting for Henry Kissinger and Jiang Zemin in 1997, said Kissinger was “one of the last giants”. Photo: Supplied by Robert Daly

US Special envoy Henry Kissinger meets China’s Prime Minister Zhou Enlai in Beijing in July 1971.

Members of the US delegation pose with hosts on the Great Wall of China on October 22, 1971. US national security adviser Henry Kissinger is front left, standing with China’s acting foreign minister Ji Pengfei. Photo: White House via CNP/Getty Images

Charming, controversial Henry Kissinger steered establishment of US-China ties

Richard Nixon (L) speaks with Henry Kissinger in Salzburg, May 1972 . Photo: AFP

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has died at the age of 100.Photo: AP

Henry Kissinger meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in November 2019. Photo: Xinhua

To best honour Kissinger, let’s keep working on healthy, stable China-US relations

US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (right) accepts food from Chinese premier Zhou Enlai during a state banquet in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 1973. Photo: Bettmann

News

China

Diplomacy

Chinese foreign minister signs book of condolences and praises late statesman for ‘objective and friendly’ view towards Beijing
American ambassador Nicholas Burns tweets that he and Wang met to discuss US-China ties during the foreign minister’s visit to embassy


Chinese foreign minister signs book of condolences and praises former US secretary of state for ‘objective and friendly’ view towards Beijing.


Henry Kissinger

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi visits US embassy to honour Henry Kissinger

Chinese foreign minister signs book of condolences and praises late statesman for ‘objective and friendly’ view towards Beijing American ambassador Nicholas Burns tweets that he and Wang met to discuss US-China ties during the foreign minister’s visit to embassy

Chinese foreign minister signs book of condolences and praises late statesman for ‘objective and friendly’ view towards Beijing

American ambassador Nicholas Burns tweets that he and Wang met to discuss US-China ties during the foreign minister’s visit to embassy