Kissinger, the one American name Beijing reveres

I had a good contact in the US some time ago whose father parachuted out of an airplane at the age of 94. Pretty staggering. But now we have Henry Kissinger at the age of 100 turning up in Beijing and meeting with all the top Chinese hierarchy, including President Xi Zinping. Now that really is staggering. What an extraordinary man he is. The last time I saw him he looked a bit crumpled and needed a wheelchair to get around. But his brain is still as sharp as a parrot's beak and he has more knowledge about China and world affairs than anyone else on the planet. As a centenarian he is still playing a unique role in the world. The US State Department rather brusquely dismissed the notion that Kissinger might have played a part in warming relations between Beijing and Washington. A spokesman said Kissinger was not an envoy of Washington but just a private citizen. That's like saying Albert Einstein was pretty good at maths but was not in a position to contribute towards economic matters. Of course Kissinger's visit to Beijing could have improved the sticky relations between Beijing and Washington. I have no doubt he will be debriefed at some point by the Biden administration, and President Xi will expect this to happen, so the Kissinger effect will be important. The wisdom of this man is respected not just in Beijing but around the world. I'm sure his visit to China will have lasting benefits.