Henry Kissinger's secret visit to China in 1971 was one of the most pivotal moments in the post-war era, bringing about a tectonic shift in the global balance of power. Now, 50 years later, the US and China retain many of the same ideological and cultural differences they did back then, but the stakes of non-cooperation have increased substantially.

Dr. Kissinger, then US Secretary of State, and Mushahid Hussain, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee for the Parliament of Pakistan, began with remarks on the diplomatic steps the US and Pakistan took to initiate the secret meeting between Dr Kissinger and Zhou Enlai that would rekindle formal diplomatic relations after 25 years of hostilities. Leaders on all sides fully grasped of the magnitude of the impending visit, and despite their competing worldviews, were able to set aside their differences and recognize the importance of ensuring productive and meaningful diplomatic relations in the future.

The past 50 years saw the ups and downs of the China-US relationship. The recent high-level dialogue between Chinese and American officials in Alaska exposed the increasing mutual distrust between both sides. However, as all panelists agreed, there is no room for any talk of containment or a new Cold War, for global peace and prosperity depends on amicable relations between the two powers. Looking back now over the past 50 years, it is remarkable how far China and the US have come since that first meeting, and now the two countries are so heavily entwined that any moves to decouple would be detrimental to both their interest.

Download the full report：Plenary Session 1:50 Years of the US-China Relations