4. Dezember 2023

Henry Kissinger and China

US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai
during a state banquet in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 1973. Photo: Bettmann

To best honour Kissinger, let’s keep working on healthy, stable China-US relations.
By Xie Feng, China’s Ambassador to the United States since May 2023,

My article on @SCMPNews to remember Dr. Kissinger, a man of wit and grit, in whom I found an unquenchable optimism and love for life. I can vividly recall how he proudly showed me around the “China corner” in his office, recounting stories behind each of his photos with Chinese leaders. “I may go back again,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes. 

"Jeder Chinese sollte Dr. Kissinger für seinen Beitrag danken"

"Hommage an den großen Mann, den Gründervater Chinas – den ehemaligen Premierminister 
Zhou Gong Enlai!"

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

Henry Kissinger
China pays highest tribute as President Xi Jinping sends condolences on passing of ‘old friend’. 
By Igor Patrick in Washington and Zhao Ziwen in Hong Kong. 

Chinese leader sends message to US counterpart Joe Biden, says ‘Kissinger’s name will forever be associated with China-US relations’

Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also convey condolences, while analysts praise Kissinger’s role in bringing China and US together

Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, with Henry A. Kissinger during a meeting in 2015 
at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.Credit...Pool photo by Jason Lee

To Many Chinese, Kissinger’s Death Ends an Era in U.S.-China Relations
By Keith Bradsher, Siyi Zhao and Amy Chang Chien reporting from Beijing, Seoul and Taipei
阅读简体中文版  閱讀繁體中文版

In July [2023], Mr. Kissinger also met with China’s defense minister at the time, Li Shangfu, who had rebuffed multiple requests for meetings with his American counterpart. (This prompted John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, to express frustration that a private citizen had more access to the Chinese leadership than the government did.) [guess why!]


With his distinct German accent, sharp wit, voluminous writings and belief in the peacemaking power of realpolitik, Dr. Kissinger was one of the most influential foreign policy and national security practitioners of the post-World War II era and remained active in national security for more than 70 years. From the age of 20, when he joined the U.S. Army, to nearly his death, Dr. Kissinger continued to travel to Washington to offer testimony on U.S. national security strategy.

R.I.P. 🌹