China said Kissinger contributed to China-US relations, Russia described him as far-sighted, in messages of condolences after his death.
"Throughout his life, Dr. Kissinger attached great importance to China-US relations and believed that they were vital to the peace and prosperity of the two countries as well as the world," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on November 30.
Mr. Wang said that the former US Secretary of State, "an old friend and also a good friend of the Chinese people", had visited China more than 100 times and made important contributions to promoting the normalization of relations between the two countries.
Former US Secretary of State Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut on November 29, at the age of 100.
Kissinger, who served as secretary of state and national security adviser in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, played a key role in the efforts to normalize relations between Washington and Beijing in the 1970s and has visited China frequently and met with Chinese officials since leaving office.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in New York, USA on October 24. Photo: AFP
Mr. Wang said that President Xi Jinping, who met Mr. Kissinger in Beijing in July, had sent a message of condolence to US President Joe Biden. Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also sent messages of condolence.
"China and the United States should inherit and carry forward Dr. Kissinger's strategic vision, political courage and diplomatic wisdom," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences after Mr Kissinger's death, saying in a telegram to Mr Kissinger's wife, Nancy, that he was a "wise and far-sighted statesman".
"Henry Kissinger's name is closely associated with pragmatic foreign policy, which helped reduce international tensions and reach the most important agreements between the Soviet Union and the United States, contributing to strengthening global security. I had the opportunity to meet him directly many times and will certainly keep the best memories," said the Russian President.
Kissinger pushed for negotiations on strategic arms limitation and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union, which helped reduce tensions between the two nuclear superpowers. He also arranged President Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union in 1972, during which the two countries signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT I) and other basic agreements.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Tokyo today that Mr. Kissinger had made important contributions to peace and stability in Asia, including the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China.
"I would like to express my sincerest respect for his achievements. I would also like to express my condolences," Prime Minister Kishida said.
Former US President George W. Bush said that the US has lost one of its "most distinctive and trusted voices on foreign affairs with the passing of Henry Kissinger".
"From a German refugee, Kissinger rose to the highest position in US foreign policy planning," Mr. Bush said.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (left) met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in July. Photo: AFP
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the US diplomat for his "commitment to transatlantic friendship". "Kissinger was always close to Germany, his homeland. The world has lost an outstanding diplomat," Scholz wrote on X.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kissinger would leave a lasting impact on international politics, saying he "changed the pace and face of diplomacy".
Kissinger was born in Furth, Germany on May 27, 1923, and moved to the United States with his family in 1938, before the Nazis began to massacre Jews in Europe.
He served as US national security advisor from January 1969 to November 1975 and as secretary of state from September 1973 to January 1977. After leaving the US government, he founded the consulting firm Kissinger Associates, becoming an expert in providing strategic advice to corporations, governments and the public.
Kissinger continued his diplomatic career into his later years, attending White House meetings, publishing a book on leadership and testifying before a Senate committee on North Korea’s nuclear program. He made a surprise visit to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in July.
Huyen Le (According to AFP , Reuters )
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