CISS and NCUSCR Co-host Commemorative Dr. Henry Kissinger Dinner

2024-11-29

On November 29, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Tsinghua University's Center for Strategic and Security Studies (CISS) and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) jointly held a memorial dinner in Beijing to commemorate Dr. Henry Kissinger's historic contributions to Sino-U.S. relations and to promote the healthy and stable development of the relationship. 

Chinese guests at the dinner included: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing and his wife Qin Xiaomei, Honorary Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Director of the Institute of American Studies, Zhi Zhongjun, Honorary Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and retired researcher Tao Wenzhao, Honorary Dean of Peking University's Yenching Academy Yuan Ming, former Deputy Director of the Party History Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Zhang Baijia, retired PLA Major General and former Director of the Center for U.S.-China Defense Relations at the Academy of Military Sciences Yao Yunzhu, former Editor-in-Chief of Caijing Magazine Wang Boming, former Director of the Foreign Ministry's Archives and current Senior Fellow at the China International Studies Foundation Guo Chongli, President of the Asian Basketball Federation and Vice Chair of the National Youth Federation Yao Ming, and Chairperson of the Dongrun Charity Foundation Kong Dongmei, among others. 

American guests included: Stephen A. Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations; Gary Locke, Chairman of The Committee of 100 former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former Ambassador to China; John L. Holden, Managing Director of McLarty Associates and former President of the NCUSCR; Joshua Cooper Ramo, Chairman and CEO of Sornay LLC and former Vice Chairman and Co-CEO of Kissinger Associates, among others. The dinner was hosted by Da Wei, Director of Tsinghua University's Center for Strategic and Security Studies.

During the dinner, several guests gave impromptu speeches, sharing their experiences with Dr. Kissinger and remembering the great strategist who made a historic contribution to the development of Sino-U.S. relations.

On the first anniversary of Dr. Kissinger’s passing, we present some excerpts from the speeches given at the memorial dinner (arranged in the order of delivery), to join readers in commemorating this great friend of the Chinese people.

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DA Wei: Ladies and gentlemen, the memorial dinner begins now. This event is held to commemorate the first anniversary of Dr. Kissinger’s passing. As President Xi Jinping has said, Dr. Kissinger was a world-renowned strategist, an old and good friend of the Chinese people, and made historic contributions to the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations. I won’t repeat the many contributions he made to Sino-U.S. relations, which are well known to all of us. 

In the past few days, Tsinghua University's Center for Strategic and Security Studies and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations have been holding the second round of the U.S.-China People’s Dialogue here in Beijing. In the interlude of this event, it is especially meaningful to hold this dinner in his memory.

On October 24, 2023, after the first round of the U.S.-China People’s Dialogue in New York, we attended the NCUSCR's annual dinner. Mr. Orlins was the host of that evening’s dinner. During the dinner, there was a tribute segment for Dr. Kissinger, where Dr. Kissinger delivered his final public speech. The next day, on October 25, I and several Chinese guests from the dialogue visited Dr. Kissinger’s office. We had a conversation for over an hour and took a photo together. Mr. Orlins told me that this might have been the last delegation Dr. Kissinger received before his passing. I still clearly remember that during our conversation, Governor Zhu Min asked the first question, which was about the Middle East conflict. Then, President Xue Lan of Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College asked the second question, which was about artificial intelligence and international relations. I was honored to ask the third and last question, which was: “How do you view the current and future Sino-U.S. relationship?” He spoke for about 10 to 15 minutes. He said that Sino-U.S. relations had gone through many difficulties in the past, but now the leaders of both countries were working to stabilize the relationship, which was the right direction. He also said that if Sino-U.S. relations were stable, the Middle East situation might not have unfolded the way it has. Finally, he mentioned that, in the long run, both countries would need a fourth joint communiqué to stabilize Sino-U.S. relations. That was the last time I met Dr. Kissinger and perhaps the last time he publicly spoke about Sino-U.S. relations.

Today, we are honored to be holding the second round of the U.S.-China People’s Dialogue here in Beijing, but Dr. Kissinger is no longer with us. That is why we decided to hold this memorial dinner this evening, inviting his old friends from China and the U.S. to remember him together.

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TAO Wenzhao: I would like to thank Professor Da Wei for the invitation. As a researcher of Sino-U.S. relations, I, of course, knew Dr. Kissinger well,and I had some interactions with him. One of the most memorable occasions was in May 2002, when the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries invited Dr. Kissinger to visit China to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique. We traveled from Beijing to Shanghai with Ambassador Zhu Qizhen, the translator from Dr. Kissinger’s 1972 visit, and other colleagues. I had the honor of accompanying Dr. Kissinger during the visit. We went to the small hall at the Jinjiang Hotel in Shanghai, where the Shanghai Communique was signed. Although the hall was not large, it was significant, as it was the site where such a historic document was produced. I remember Ambassador Zhu specifically noting that the Shanghai Communique wasn’t “signed” because no one actually signed it.

After our activities in Shanghai, we traveled by bus to Suzhou, and I happened to sit next to Dr. Kissinger. We discussed my own experience as a government-sponsored scholar researching Sino-U.S. relations from 1982 to 1984 in the U.S., and I mentioned that if Dr. Kissinger and the leaders of both countries hadn’t initiated the process of normalizing Sino-U.S. relations, I would not have had the opportunity to go to the U.S. to do research. Dr. Kissinger responded that the development of Sino-U.S. relations was a historical inevitability.

In Suzhou, the mayor, who seemed to be in his thirties or forties, warmly welcomed Dr. Kissinger and spoke for about half an hour in English, detailing the history of Suzhou and its tremendous changes since China’s reform and opening up. Dr. Kissinger was deeply impressed, and he said that this mayor was very capable, and that reform and opening up required such leaders.

YAO Yunzhu: I first met Dr. Kissinger in 1999 at the closing ceremony of the Eisenhower Foundation’s China Program, where he served as the Foundation’s Chairman and awarded us our certificates. After the ceremony, Dr. Kissinger gave a speech on U.S.-China relations and opened the floor for questions. I stood up and asked, "As a nuclear strategist, how do you view the role of nuclear deterrence in current international relations? Is it still important?"

He smiled and said, “I’m glad someone still remembers me as a nuclear strategist.” Then he explained, “Nuclear weapons, with their immense destructive power, played an important role in maintaining peace during the Cold War, and they still do. However, in the end, nuclear weapons must be banned and completely destroyed because they have the potential to destroy the Earth, all life on it, and humanity itself.” His insightful response earned a round of applause.

Years later, in January 2007, Dr. Kissinger co-authored a landmark article in The Wall Street Journal with George Shultz, William Perry, and Sam Nunn, titled Toward a World without Nuclear Weapons, which sparked a global movement advocating for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Dr. Kissinger was not only a great thinker, strategist, politician, and diplomat but also a person with a deep sense of responsibility for the welfare of humanity and the future of the world. In his later years, whenever I met him, he often expressed growing concern about the development of artificial intelligence, especially its military applications and the immense impact it could have on human society.

I will always remember Dr. Kissinger in this way. Thank you!

GUO Chongli: It is a great honor to have the opportunity to attend this solemn and profoundly meaningful memorial service. I would like to share a story about a special gift given to Dr. Henry Kissinger.

In June 2011, a commemoration event was held in China to mark the 40th anniversary of Dr. Kissinger's visit to China. He was invited to visit again. The leaders of the relevant departments involved in the reception noted that it was quite a feat for such an esteemed guest, nearly ninety years old, to visit again, and that there might not be another opportunity for a visit in the future. Therefore, a creative reception plan was proposed, which included presenting a commemorative gift of great historical significance—one that Dr. Kissinger would most cherish. This gift was a replica of the archival text of the "Shanghai Communiqué," signed by Premier Zhou Enlai and President Richard Nixon in 1972. When the department head assigned me this important task, it was emphasized that this gift was the consensus of all the leaders and important figures involved in the reception. This communiqué embodied the political wisdom and strategic foresight of Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and Dr. Kissinger. It laid the foundation for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, ultimately altering the political landscape of the world. Under the guidance of the department leadership and the collective efforts of the relevant parties, the work was completed on time. I still vividly remember the deep sense of reverence and excitement I felt when I first saw the original draft of the communiqué, personally approved by Premier Zhou.

The reception team framed this precious document together with the front page of the People's Daily from the year the communiqué was published and presented it to Dr. Kissinger during a grand and solemn ceremony. I felt that this gift was truly a "state gift," filled with the deep affection and goodwill of the Chinese people. Dr. Kissinger looked pleasantly surprised, carefully examined the framed document, and said he would place it in the most prominent spot in his home as a cherished gift.

As we remember Dr. Kissinger today, I believe this story reflects once again how the Chinese government and people deeply valued their friendship with Dr. Kissinger and the historic contributions he made to U.S.-China relations. All of us here, both Chinese and foreign distinguished guests, are important witnesses, contributors, and promoters of Sino-American relations. I believe that our shared hope is for the two countries to find a way to peacefully coexist in this rapidly changing world and to work towards that goal. I believe this is also Dr. Kissinger's wish.

Thank you!

YAO Ming: Good evening, everyone! I've met Dr. Kissinger twice, and although we didn’t have long conversations or spend much time together, I want to share my impressions of him.

The first time I met Dr. Kissinger was in Beijing, when he celebrated his 90th birthday. It was a unique moment for me. We all know about his visit to China in 1971, the 1972 visit, and the process of Sino-U.S. diplomatic normalization. I kept thinking—without these actions, U.S.-China relations wouldn't have developed to where they are today, and I wouldn't be the Yao Ming I am now. It wasn’t just him; it was an entire generation of diplomats, including many of the senior figures here, who worked together to normalize U.S.-China relations, allowing our generation to live in this world.

Now that I have children, I wonder what kind of world my child, when she reaches my age, will live in. Every generation has its own responsibilities, but we also learn much from previous generations. I hope we can continue to pass this on.

Thank you!

WANG Boming: I am honored to attend tonight’s event marking the first anniversary of Dr. Kissinger’s passing. I remember last year at this time, I attended the U.S.-China People's Dialogue organized by the U.S.-China National Council and Tsinghua University in New York. That evening, Dr. Kissinger was presented with an award for his contribution to the development of Sino-U.S. relations. That night, Dr. Kissinger gave a speech about U.S.-China relations, which might have been his last public appearance and speech.

Dr. Kissinger's secret visit to China in 1971 opened the door to the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations, and for over fifty years, he remained dedicated to the development of these relations. One of the key figures in this effort was Mr. Zhang Baijia's father, who was one of the four Chinese officials accompanying Dr. Kissinger from Pakistan to China for the secret talks.

Official contacts between China and the U.S. began with the Geneva talks in 1954, where the atmosphere was tense—Secretary of State Dulles insisted that American and Chinese delegations should not shake hands. As Minister Li mentioned, it’s a great achievement that U.S. and Chinese leaders eventually embraced each other.

I was born in Poland during a pivotal moment in Sino-U.S. relations. After the Geneva talks in 1954, both sides felt the need to communicate, which led to the establishment of the Sino-U.S. Warsaw Ambassadorial talks. In 1955, I was born in Warsaw, where my father, as China’s ambassador, took part in more than 100 rounds of talks with American diplomats. My birth was directly tied to the development of Sino-U.S. relations, and I feel responsible for contributing, even in a small way, to furthering these relations.

I firmly believe Sino-U.S. relations will continue to develop. However, I also acknowledge that the relationship will face many difficulties in the time ahead. This does not mean the two countries cannot maintain exchanges, especially cultural ones. For example, Yao Ming playing basketball in the U.S. and Lang Lang playing piano are important forms of cultural exchange that foster better relations between the two countries. Finally, I would like to quote Mr. Orens’ favorite sentence of Chairman Mao: "In times of difficulty, comrades must look to the achievements, see the light, and strengthen our courage!"

Thank you!

YUAN Ming: Over the past decades, I’ve had the privilege of meeting Dr. Kissinger many times in cities like Beijing, Washington, New York, Tokyo, and Davos. Due to time constraints, I’d like to focus on his care for China’s younger generation. Since 2001, Dr. Kissinger visited Peking University seven times and engaged in direct discussions with students, touching on “big topics.” I remember the last time he visited Peking University in late 2019, a female student raised a question about AI, and Dr. Kissinger immediately offered a clear explanation, impressing everyone with his quick response. He didn’t seem like a 95-year-old at all. At that time, Ambassador Fu Ying was also present.

Many of the students who participated in those discussions have now become leaders in various fields. The “big topics” that were discussed back then helped shape their global perspectives. Today, in this very hall, there is Li Yuting, who now heads the Asian programs at the Henry Luce Foundation in New York. There’s also another student from the 2001 session, who was then critical of U.S. military bases in Asia, and Dr. Kissinger acknowledged him. This student is now the Dean of the Law School at Peking University.

I asked one of the female students who participated in the 2001 seminar to write down her memories. She wrote: "I was fortunate to meet Dr. Kissinger in the spring of 2001. He was a wise leader of his time. I was holding his monumental work, Diplomacy, and waiting with my classmates in front of the Peking University Centennial Hall. As soon as he saw me, he came over and asked for my thoughts on the book. His humility and warmth deeply moved and inspired me, and I decided to spread positive energy like him, to influence those around me. Of course, the world is constantly changing, and we must seek certainty amidst uncertainty, simplicity in chaos. True greatness often transcends through subtlety, and true grandeur encompasses all without form. Many years later, I realized the highest level of his wisdom was in understanding that international relations, like work relations, ultimately come down to human relationships. This is the essence of it. I hope that peace will become the eternal theme of the world."

This female student, who was 21 at the time, is now 44 years old and a mother of three. There are countless such stories, which are part of Dr. Kissinger’s rich legacy.

ZHANG Baijia: I would like to thank Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy for inviting me to tonight’s dinner. I’ve met Dr. Kissinger several times, mostly in small gatherings when he visited China. The attendees were mostly his old friends and their families. Although I had many opportunities to meet him, we didn’t talk much. In such settings, I carry a dual identity. On one hand, I am the descendant of Dr. Kissinger’s old friend, or as we say in Chinese, a “second generation”. On the other hand, I am a scholar who has been studying the history of Sino-U.S. relations. My father, back in 1971, flew to Pakistan to meet Dr. Kissinger during his secret visit to China. He later participated in the entire process of normalizing Sino-U.S. relations and served as China’s Ambassador to the U.S. in the early 1980s. That period was a crucial and beautiful chapter in the history of Sino-U.S. relations.

There is an old saying in China: "Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west." In my own research, I have had a deep realization that the development of U.S.-China relations has been full of twists and turns, often experiencing great ups and downs. Each generation faces a very different situation. Clearly, such a situation does not lend itself to the beneficial transmission of experiences when dealing with bilateral relations. Today, U.S.-China relations face many new challenges and are in a difficult period. The fortunate thing is that we are still able to maintain dialogue, from the grassroots level to the official level. 

I think that if Dr. Kissinger and his generation left a legacy for future generations, the most important one would be their insight into the enormous common interests between the two countries, even in the face of long-standing confrontation, and their wisdom in overcoming the barriers between them to achieve the great development of U.S.-China relations. Now, at this critical historical moment, what we need is the insight and new wisdom of the next generation.

Thank you, everyone!

KONG Dongmei: Just now, Mr. Zhang mentioned that he is from the second generation, while I am from the third generation. Hello everyone, I am Kong Dongmei, and it is a great honor and excitement to be here tonight to commemorate and pay tribute to Dr. Henry Kissinger along with all of you, the esteemed predecessors. On June 27, 2011, I had the privilege of accompanying my mother, Li Min, to meet Dr. Kissinger at the Poly Plaza. It was an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. Kissinger's first visit to China, and I still vividly remember that day.

From 2004 to 2005, I conducted in-depth interviews with China’s first female vice foreign minister, Wang Hairong, who is also my cousin. From her, I learned about some diplomatic stories from the 1970s when she often accompanied her grandfather in meeting foreign guests. In 2006, I wrote a book titled The Days that Changed the World: Diplomatic Stories with Wang Hairong about Mao Zedong. This book details some historical records of Chairman Mao's foreign diplomacy after the founding of the People's Republic of China, including the secret reception of Dr. Kissinger and some anecdotes about Mao and Dr. Kissinger.

According to my cousin’s recollection, as early as 1969, Mao Zedong once casually mentioned to her that the U.S. might send Dr. Kissinger to China. At that time, Dr. Kissinger was far from the globally recognized figure he would later become; he was just a young American scholar. My cousin later reflected that Chairman Mao might have come to this conclusion after reviewing reference materials and other international telegrams, as Dr. Kissinger’s views and statements on international affairs had already drawn the attention of the Chinese side. Before his secret visit to China in 1971, Dr. Kissinger’s name had already appeared 27 times in People’s Daily. In 1971, as the U.S. President’s special envoy and National Security Advisor, Dr. Kissinger made a secret trip to China, working with the Chinese side to pave the way for President Nixon's visit in the following year and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, opening the door to U.S.-China relations that had been closed for 20 years. On February 21, 1972, Dr. Kissinger accompanied President Nixon to Beijing, marking the beginning of a groundbreaking ice-breaking journey, and a historic turning point in U.S.-China relations.

In the stories shared by my cousin, my grandfather first met Dr. Kissinger at Zhongnanhai, and they hit it off instantly, as if they were long-lost friends. Dr. Kissinger met with my grandfather five times in total, the last being in 1975, when he and his wife, Nancy, visited Beijing. By then, my grandfather’s health had severely declined, but he insisted on meeting them. It is said that Nancy, who was 1.93 meters tall, stood taller than both my grandfather and Dr. Kissinger. My grandfather humorously remarked, "The East wind blows stronger than the West wind," which was not just a greeting to the Kissinger couple, but perhaps also a hopeful metaphor for the future of U.S.-China relations, implying that despite challenges and difficulties, the two countries would continue to move forward together.

In the context of the new era, U.S.-China relations are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. At this critical moment, both sides should remember and promote Dr. Kissinger’s strategic vision and political courage, upholding the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and jointly advancing the healthy and stable development of U.S.-China relations. As President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with President Joe Biden in Riyadh this month, U.S.-China relations are like a building, and both sides should continue to work together to add bricks to this building.

On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and with the 2024 U.S. election results now settled, we look forward to the stable development of U.S.-China relations at this new historical juncture.

Thank you!

FU Ying: After hearing so many touching stories about Dr. Kissinger, it feels like we are revisiting the past. Holding this commemorative event after the “China-U.S. People’s Dialogue” forum, especially at a time when bilateral relations are facing challenges, is indeed very precious.

The earlier speakers reminisced about their interactions with Dr. Kissinger. This reminds me of my first encounter with him. It was in the 1980s, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where my colleagues and I provided simultaneous translation for a forum he attended. We sat in the translation booths, which were positioned in the corner of the room (she points to a corner of the venue). Because Dr. Kissinger was so famous, we thought of trying to take a picture with him when he left his seat. As soon as he came out, we all gathered around. He smiled, paused, and took a photo with us. As he was leaving, he said, “Your work in the translation booth is very important.” At that moment, I realized that he was a down-to-earth person.

In my later work, I had many opportunities to interact with Dr. Kissinger, especially at international forums. He was undoubtedly a famous figure. In the reports by Fallaci, he was described as “a big celebrity,” “an important person,” “a fortunate man,” and even “a superstar.” However, what left the deepest impression on me was his humility. I had the chance to be a guest on the same stage with him two or three times. Sometimes he hosted the forum, and I also had the privilege of hosting one for him. Every time, I felt a little nervous because I was speaking alongside someone who had lived through such historic events. At these times, he would quietly ask me, “You won’t make things too difficult for me, will you?” I felt that he deliberately humbled himself, using this method to help me relax and not feel nervous because of his presence. While everyone admired him, he was careful to stay grounded, deliberately bringing himself down from a lofty position, maintaining a modest attitude. Perhaps only a person with such profound knowledge and rich experience could afford to be so humble, humble enough to accommodate everyone.

In the introduction to the biography of Kissinger written by Niall Ferguson, he quotes a statement from Kissinger: “In the end, isn’t what I’ve gone through just a series of coincidences?”

There are many chances or opportunities that come by, but not all of them are seized. Some are simply missed. However, as Kissinger said, history does not record the things that did not happen. So, although his statement was a modest one, it is indeed true that when opportunities arose, he seized them.

The second impression I have of Dr. Kissinger is his strong sense of agency when it comes to solving problems. Whether it’s a major or minor issue, he would immediately think about how to resolve it. Every time I met him, he would thoughtfully discuss the origin of some issue with us, wanting to know what solutions were available, whether the matter was related to China or other hot issues in the world. Even when dealing with very small matters, he seemed to have an instinctive desire to solve them. Diplomacy, at its core, is about problem-solving. As a diplomat, his awareness of and commitment to addressing international issues were deeply ingrained in him.

Dr. Kissinger valued the concept of the "community of shared future for mankind" proposed by Chinese leaders and earnestly wanted to understand its cultural and political connotations. He also had discussions with Professor Wang Jisi on promoting the idea of an Asia-Pacific community of shared future, and he specifically initiated a project for this purpose.

It was probably in 2018, during his visit to Beijing, when we gathered with old friends at Diaoyutai. I asked him how he viewed the issues that had arisen in U.S.-China relations at the time—whether, as in the past, things would go through ups and downs before getting back on track, or whether there was a paradigmatic shift. He answered, “It’s not going back.” This shows that he had keen insight into the changes. Of course, he had not witnessed today’s situation in person, but perhaps he did not feel regret about it.

When we commemorate Dr. Kissinger, from a Chinese perspective, we remember and value his contribution to China-U.S. relations. He truly deserves the title “Old Friend of the Chinese People.”

As the previous speakers mentioned, each generation has its responsibilities and achievements. The next generation can learn from the experiences of the previous one while also looking ahead. This time, when the two leaders of the two countries met in Lima, President Xi Jinping again emphasized the key principles for bilateral relations: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We all hope for the improvement of U.S.-China relations, and we should all work together to make this world a better place.

Thank you!

Joshua Ramo: Thank you very much! Let me start with something very obvious. Dr. Kissinger would definitely love to be here tonight. He loved gathering with friends, he loved delicious Chinese food, and he deeply cared for his friends. I’ve been present when he met with many of the people in this room, and one of his many amazing talents was making friends----something that many of you here have personally experienced.

It’s been almost a year since we lost this dear old friend. I worked with him for 20 years, and saw him almost every day. When he called me, he always softly said, “Joshua” (imitating Kissinger’s voice). I miss those calls, and I miss our friendship and our conversations.

Over the past year, I’ve discussed with his family and friends many times how we could best honor Henry. In the end, we agreed that we should honor him through our own lives. And tonight’s gathering is one such moment. We all know what’s happening in the world and how difficult the global situation is right now. Throughout Dr. Kissinger’s life, he adhered to one principle: no matter what happens outside, we must focus on what’s important and stick to our principles.

Based on this, I want to briefly share two aspects of his view of the world. Henry often told me, “Joshua, your generation’s problem is that you have no sense of tragedy.” What he meant was, “Without a sense of tragedy, you are doomed to repeat it.” Henry was, first and foremost, a historian. Whether you study Chinese history or Western history, isn’t it true that generations that fail to sense tragedy ultimately end up repeating it?

Kissinger’s way of expressing himself was very European. Often, he would explain things in a more tactful, less direct manner. I may lack his European sensibility. However, in the last 15 years of his life, his core message became extraordinarily clear: the world is on the edge of a very dangerous cliff, one whose scale and danger are perhaps unimaginable by past standards.

The greatest threat to China is not the United States, and the greatest threat to the U.S. is not China. The greatest threat is the collapse of the world order, the injection of new risks, whether they be climate change, artificial intelligence weapons, or uncontrolled nuclear proliferation. From this perspective, the issues we are discussing or worrying about today, such as trade wars or geopolitical tensions, must be viewed within this larger context.

Both Kissinger and I are Jewish. He rarely spoke of his childhood, but in the final year of his life, he told many stories about his childhood. He was someone who, in the deepest sense, had experienced tragedy. The question is: for most of us, who have not experienced such massive tragedies, are we doomed to repeat them?

Next, let me turn to another aspect of Henry’s character: his extraordinary love for life. It was amazing that he could contemplate the deepest, most catastrophic, and terrifying possibilities, while at the same time, he could love Beethoven, enjoy every cookie placed in front of him, and seize every opportunity to admire a beautiful sunset or watch a Yankees game.

Finally, I want to end with an observation that can show us everything worth learning from Henry’s spirit. This passage is from his memoir, describing his first visit to China:

“Adults rarely regain the feelings of their youth, that time when everything seemed frozen, when every experience was filled with a mysterious newness, and every encounter was cherished for its uniqueness. As we grow older, we comfort ourselves with familiar things and develop patterned responses. Correspondingly, the world becomes more and more formulaic, and time seems to accelerate. Life seems to become a kaleidoscope of monotonous repetition, with only some truly extraordinary events — events that are both novel and touching, special and shocking — able to restore that youthful sense of wonder. For me, when the plane crossed snow-covered mountains rising straight into the clouds, flying towards the second-highest peak in the world under the dawn light, that feeling surged back to me. I had once thought China was a densely populated, highly cultivated country, but after a few hours of flight, we saw endless deserts dotted with small oases.”

This passage is pure poetry, written by someone who truly understands why we must avoid tragedy. The reason is that avoiding tragedy means preserving a fundamental miracle. This is the opportunity of our lives.

As we commemorate someone who spent a hundred extraordinary years on this earth, I think we should move forward with this feeling. Whether it's colleagues from Tsinghua, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, or the The Committee of 100, we should all focus on one question: How do we unite opposing sides? Because in the face of today’s immense dangers, this is our only choice.

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