https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-66106076
Xi Jinping meets Henry Kissinger as US seeks to defrost China ties
The former secretary of state, who is 100 years old, played a crucial role in helping China emerge from diplomatic isolation in the 1970s.
The US has stressed he is visiting in his capacity as a private citizen.
But given his outsized stature in China, he could act as a backchannel for US-China negotiations.
State television showed Mr Xi smiling as he told Mr Kissinger: "I'm very glad to see you, sir."