Henry Kissinger [Photo/People's Daily Online]

China and US should work in cooperation to deal with a series of global issues, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in an interview ahead of President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to the US.

Calling Xi a man of great determination, Dr Kissinger looked forward to a consensus reached by both China and US that the two countries need to work in cooperation and apply this conclusion to a number of concrete issues during Xi's visit.

As a man who opened the great Sino-US relation and witnessed more than 40 years of development between the two countries, the former US top diplomat spoke highly of the economic achievement China has made and saw many common opportunities for bilateral ties.

"If we don't work together, many of them can't be reached. Some of the problems cannot be solved alone by either China or the US, like climate, environment, proliferation, weapons of massive destruction, or cyber. These are all the things we need to deal with together." Kissinger said.

Kissinger also said that a confrontation "would be very unfortunate for both sides", rejecting the notion of US-China in "tipping point" and stressed the two are obligated to work together.

Kissinger commented on President Xi's quest for a "new type of major country relationship". He said it was necessary for both countries to attach great importance to bilateral ties and keep communications open for each other.

"China will be growing, whether we accept it or don't accept it." Kissinger said, urging others who resist to admitting China's uprising to face the reality. He suggested the US president to "talk honestly to the Chinese, to tell them what their concerns are, to learn Chinese concerns."

"I am very hopeful that President Xi's visit to US will show progress in dialogue," Kissinger said.