Henry Kissinger foresees better U.S.-China ties

Source: Xinhua | 01-06-2009 14:11

The U.S.-China relations will enjoy steady and continuous progress in a long period to come, as many problems in the world today require the two countries to cooperate in many ways, former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger said in New York on Monday.

Stephen A. Orlins (R2), president of the United States  National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR),  Henry Kissinger (R3), former U.S. secretary of state,  attend a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the  establishment of diplomatic relations between the United  States and China in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in  New York, the United States, Jan. 5, 2009. NYSE kicked off  its trading session on Monday with the special ceremony.  Orlins rang the market's Opening Bell.(Xinhua Photo)

"Our ties in the next 30 years could make the same progress as they had made in the last 30 years, that could be good for the world, be good for our countries," Kissinger told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, as China and the United States are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations this month.

It is a "fascinating thing" that the progress of the relationship has been "continuous" over such a long period, during which the two countries have seen four generations of Chinese leaders and eight American administrations, said Kissinger.

Just two weeks ahead of a government transition in Washington, the seasoned diplomat advised President-elect Barack Obama to also "dedicate himself to a continuous development of Chinese and U.S. relationship."

Leaders of the two countries should be in direct contact with each other, and Obama should go to China "at a relatively very early point," he suggested.

Meanwhile, he cautioned, "We should not judge the relationship by how quickly our president travels, but should judge it by whether at an early stage significant conversations take place between leading Chinese and leading Americans and whether real progress is made on outstanding issues."

Just hours before the interview with Xinhua in his New York office, Kissinger attended a special Opening Bell sounding ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange to mark the anniversary of U.S.-China diplomatic ties, which officially fell on Jan. 1.