Henry Kissinger, a veteran U.S. diplomat, made a surprise visit to Beijing where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, as reported by state media.

The former U.S. Secretary of State, who is 100 years old, was warmly received by the Chinese premier at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to CCTV’s online post.

Specific details about the discussions were not disclosed, but the report praised Kissinger as a “legendary diplomat” due to his previous efforts in negotiating the reconciliation between the U.S. and China.

Xi Jinping was quoted by official state news agency Xinhua, as per Google translate, stating, “Chinese people value friendship, and we will never forget our old friend and your historic contribution to promoting the development of Sino-US relations and enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.”

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meeting, while the White House clarified that Kissinger’s visit to China was not on behalf of the U.S. government.

This meeting marked Kissinger’s second unexpected encounter during the week, as he had previously spoken with China’s defense minister, Li Shangfu, on Tuesday.

Improve relations

The talks between Kissinger and Xi come at a time when there are ongoing efforts to improve diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China. The relationship between the two global powers has been strained in recent months due to various trade disputes in the tech sector, rising tensions concerning the Taiwan Strait, and security concerns surrounding a suspected Chinese spy balloon intercepted by the U.S.

Notably, Kissinger’s role in initiating the normalization of U.S.-China relations in 1971, which led to historic talks between then-U.S. President Richard Nixon and China’s Mao Zedong, continues to be highly regarded in China.

CCTV’s post also included a video showing Kissinger and Xi conversing in one of the opulent rooms of the state guesthouse, a location chosen for its intimate setting compared to the usual venue of the Great Hall of the People, where official diplomatic meetings are held.

It follows recent visits to China by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. climate envoy John Kerry.