Meeting between U.S., Chinese presidents seminal in Sino-U.S. ties: Kissinger (2)

It has already been pointed out, the United States and China have its special obligation in a very complicated period, he added.

There's study at Harvard, which shows that in history there have been 15 examples of rising countries confronting established countries, and in the 11 cases, it led to conflicts. The challenge is not just to avoid conflicts, but to create a new and constructive relationship between the two countries that look at issues historically, from not always the same point of view, Kissinger explained.

"Now we are in a situation that we have a common set of problems, if we don't solve them jointly, the whole world will be divided in every part between people who have been pressed to join one model or another. That will be a disaster for the two countries and for the world," he added.

Kissinger suggested that what China and the United States have to do is to approach a common conception of how problems should be dealt with, and then work with the international community, to make it a real international community.

"Both of our countries have serious domestic issues, as they are moving into the new period, both of our countries face a new international situation, but both our countries have understood that we need a cooperative pattern, we now have to define what it is," he added.

"I think I'm very hopeful that when both sides pursued the agenda that has been put forward, that we will be moving into an even greater period of Sino-U.S. relations, and a greater period for peace and progress in the world," said he.