Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The People’s Republic of China
Wang Yi Mourns the Passing of Henry Kissinger
Updated: December 05, 2023 17:32

On December 5, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to the U.S. Embassy in China to mourn the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Wang Yi wrote an inscription on the condolence book, expressing deep condolences over the passing of Dr. Henry Kissinger. Wang Yi said, Dr. Henry Kissinger was an old friend of the Chinese people, who had made historic contributions to the normalization of China-U.S. relations and will be remembered by the Chinese people forever. Time has proved and will continue to prove that the political decision made by Dr. Henry Kissinger and the Chinese leaders in that year is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, the development trend of the times, and the expectations of the international community. Over the years, Dr. Henry Kissinger has always viewed China's development in an objective and friendly manner. He firmly believed that China and the United States, as two major countries, should and must coexist in peace. He was good at finding common ground and opportunities for cooperation from the differences between China and the United States, demonstrating his foresight and vision as a diplomat, strategist and statesman.

Wang Yi emphasized that President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a successful summit meeting in San Francisco, where they had in-depth communication and reached a series of important common understandings on issues of strategic, overarching and fundamental importance shaping the development of China-U.S. relations, which will help improve and develop bilateral relations in a sound, stable and sustainable direction. The two sides should implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state. Wang Yi expressed the hope that the United States will work in the same direction with China, do more to help enhance understanding and strengthen cooperation, and take concrete actions to maintain the stability and improvement momentum of China-U.S. relations.