Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies at age 100
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut at the age of 100.
According to Reuters, the consulting firm Kissinger Associates recently announced that Mr. Kissinger passed away at his home on the evening of November 29 (local time). During his lifetime, Mr. Kissinger was a veteran politician who had great influence in US foreign policy under two Presidents, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Henry Kissinger was born in Germany in 1923 and immigrated to the United States with his family to escape the Nazi regime. He became an American citizen in 1943 and graduated from Harvard University. In 1969, he became National Security Advisor under President Nixon.
During his eight years as US Secretary of State (September 1973 - January 1977), Mr. Kissinger participated in many major foreign policies. These included the "shuttle diplomacy" strategy to seek peace in the Middle East, negotiations that led to China's diplomatic opening to the US, and arms control agreements between the US and the Soviet Union.
By 1973, Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. After his resignation in 1974, Kissinger's influence in American politics had diminished. However, he remained a veteran diplomat and continued to express strong views for the rest of his life.
In July this year, Mr. Kissinger made a surprise visit to China in the context of Washington and Beijing's efforts to mend the rift in relations. Here, Mr. Kissinger was warmly welcomed by President Xi Jinping as an old friend.
