The United States needs “Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom” in its China policies, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told the former U.S. state secretary in Beijing, as both countries struggle to repair relations, writes Reuters.

Henry Kissinger served as U.S. state secretary and national security advisor in the administrations of presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and played a key diplomatic role in normalising ties between Washington and Beijing in the 1970s. Washington said it was aware of the trip to China this week by Kissinger, who has visited China regularly since leaving office and is now aged 100, but said he was not acting on behalf of the U.S. government.

Wang, China’s foreign minister until late last year, referred to Kissinger as “an old friend” and commended the former U.S. diplomat for playing “an irreplaceable role” in enhancing mutual understanding between 2 countries.

“U.S. policies towards China require Kissinger-style diplomatic wisdom and Nixon-style political courage”, - China’s foreign ministry quoted Wang as saying during the meeting.

Kissinger was not the only former state secretary in Beijing hoping to stabilise bilateral ties this week. John Kerry, now a presidential envoy, has held talks in the Chinese capital since Monday on fighting climate change as part of a broader U.S. effort to further restore dialogue between the two estranged nations.