China Hails 'Old Friend' Kissinger, Architect Of Rapprochement

Henry Kissinger (L) last visited China as recently as July this year, when he held talks with President Xi Jinping (R) (Credit: AFP)

China on Thursday hailed the late Henry Kissinger as an "old friend", paying tribute to a diplomat central to establishing ties between Beijing and Washington.

Kissinger, a former US secretary of state whose unapologetic promotion of raw American power helped shape the post-World War II world, died Wednesday, his consulting firm said.