Visit 'a great success'

Kissinger said Xi's state visit to the United States in September had been a great success and had resulted in positive responses. The US and China should strengthen strategic dialogue, enhance mutual understanding and be inspired by the spirit of cooperation, he said.

Kissinger launched the Chinese version of his latest book, World Order, in Beijing on Saturday.

At the launch he highlighted the need to establish an international order that reflects today's reality.

The minimum condition for this would be that no country taking part in the new order becomes so dissatisfied that it opts to use force rather than peaceful settlement, Kissinger said.

He added that China will naturally defend its own interests and every country will attempt to do likewise.

But in the process, all countries have to try to understand the interests of others, and "it is possible for us to disagree on specific interests and we have to find a way to settle them without force or the threat of force", Kissinger said.

Zha Xiaogang, a leading researcher at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said Kissinger has a unique insight into world affairs and can provide an informative analysis of the current international situation.

"I think he may bring some ideas and advice regarding issues in the South China Sea from the White House to President Xi, and Xi may also convey our attitudes and intentions to the US through him," Zha said.

Meanwhile, US Pacific Command commander Admiral Harry Harris arrived in Beijing on Monday and will meet with senior PLA military leaders on Tuesday.

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Wang Qingyun contributed to this story.