China's Xi becomes nostalgic with 'old friend' Kissinger during Beijing meeting

Chinese leader Xi Jinping became nostalgic during a meeting Thursday in Beijing with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, whom Xi referred to as an "old friend."

Xi said that because Kissinger just celebrated his 100th birthday and has visited China more than 100 times, this visit has "special significance."

Under the Nixon administration, Kissinger visited China several times, paving the way for Washington to have formalized relations with Beijing after more than two decades of hostility.

Kissinger's actions "changed the two countries and changed the world," Xi also said during the meeting, as translated. "Chinese people value friendship, and we will never forget our old friend and your historic contribution to promoting the development of Sino-US relations and enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples."

Kissinger said during the meeting, "The US-China relationship is of vital importance to the peace and prosperity of both countries and the world" and that he is willing to continue to help with diplomacy between the two nations, according to Chinese state-controlled outlet Xinhua. 

He also stressed the importance of promoting the one-China principle, wherein the United States acknowledges that the self-governing island of Taiwan is a part of China. 

The visit comes as tensions between the U.S. and China are heightening, with the most recent notable incident occurring when China sent a spy balloon over sensitive U.S. military sites earlier this year.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.