NEW YORK, Nov. 7  -- The upcoming visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to China will enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries, veteran diplomat Henry Kissinger has said.

With China being a rising country and the United States "a more or less established country," it is very important that the two exchange ideas so that each side understands how they will look to the other and what needs to be done to remove tensions and to improve the situations, he said.

Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State, said in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday in his New York office, that Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to talk about a whole range of issues to enhance understanding and cooperation.

"I have had an opportunity to talk to President Obama and I'm absolutely convinced that he's going to China with a dedicated attitude," he said.

Stating that he places "great attention" on the upcoming Xi-Obama meetings in Beijing, Kissinger stressed: "I am very optimistic about this visit of our president to China."

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Obama will pay a state visit to China and also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing on Monday-Wednesday. This will be his second China tour as U.S. president and the first one in his second term.

"I think our two countries have a special opportunity and responsibility to work together for peace and progress in the world," said Kissinger, who believes that without Chinese-U.S. cooperation it will not be possible to solve the great issues that affect the world.

According to Kissinger, the topics the two leaders may cover in their talks include climate change, nuclear proliferation, Northeast Asia, accidents at sea, and how to ease certain regional tensions.

China announced earlier that Xi and Obama would also discuss cooperation and coordination in the international fight against terrorism, corruption and epidemic outbreaks such as Ebola.

"I think President Xi made a very important contribution by stating what he did. And my recommendation in America is to take it seriously ... and I'm glad to see that President Obama has acted in the same spirit," said Kissinger.

Throughout the 30-minute interview, the 91-year-old, white-haired man, in his trademark appearance of a simple suit coupled with a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, was quick-witted and responded to all questions briefly yet to the point.

"I know that in America and probably in China, there are some people who will say each side is only trying to gain time until they can become stronger than the other. I think this would be a disastrous attitude," he said.

Strongly advocating the "new model of major-country relations" the two countries are trying to build over recent years, he emphasized: "This is not an abstract theory. It is produced by the necessity of modern technology, and by the scope of the problems that are before us."

As a trailblazer for bilateral ties, whose 1971 secret visit to China broke the ice and paved the way for the establishment of U.S.-China diplomatic relations in 1979, Kissinger had no difficulty in finding historical support for his view on China.

"We have had now eight American administrations since the opening to China -- the secret trip I took in July 1971. And even though sometimes they fluctuated a little bit, they all came out in the end with the same conclusion of the importance of close relations (with China)," he said. "I think President Obama has always recognized this."

The just-concluded U.S. mid-term elections, in which Republicans took control of both houses of Congress, shall not exert any negative impact on the future development of U.S.-China relations, he added.

"It was the Republican administration that opened the door to China, and the Republican leaders who are concerned with foreign policy ... are all substantially supporting the policy of the last 40 years," he elaborated. "So President Obama can go very far in close relations with China and he can be sure of the support of the Republican foreign policy establishment."

Frequently referred to as "an old friend" by the Chinese, Kissinger also never conceals his special feelings toward China and the people there.

"A big part of my life has been bound up with Chinese events over half a century. So every time some progress is made (in China), I follow it with great interest and with great commitment," he said.

"I think we are now at the beginning of a new phase of Chinese-American relations, and I wish that well," he concluded. "And I wish the Chinese people every success in the efforts they are now undertaking for their own country and for the people of the world."