Former Secretary of the United States Department of State Henry Kissinger died this Wednesday night at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. His consulting firm, Kissinger Associates, has reported that the burial It will be a “private family service” and added that “later” there will be a commemoration in New York City, according to a statement collected by CNN.

Kissinger, whose cause of death has not been revealed, is one of the most controversial American figures of the 20th century because to be the greatest exponent of North American international politics of the timein which he combined the normalization of relations with communist countries such as the Soviet Union or China while combating leftist movements in Latin America.

The former diplomat served as White House National Security Advisor and Secretary of State during the Nixon Administration and, after his resignation over the Watergate scandal, continued his career with former President Gerald Ford. During his tenure, played a fundamental role in improving relations with Chinain the negotiations to end the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East, in the United States’ exit from the Vietnam War or in the signing of arms control agreements with the Soviets.

The impact of Kissinger’s policies is the reason why he is considered the main architect of the geopolitical scenario after the Second World War with the United States at the head of it, which is why It has even been consulted by numerous presidents Americans, both Democrats and Republicans.

In addition to winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, Kissinger was awarded numerous awards and recognitions such as the United States Army Bronze Star, the Presidential Medal of Freedom or the Medal of Freedom. Last May 27 he celebrated his centenary.

For his part, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, He has given his condolences to the family of the former diplomat, whose death he considered a “tremendous loss” for both countries. “I have been deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Kissinger’s death at the age of 100. My deepest condolences to Nancy (Kissinger, his wife) and his family. It is a tremendous loss for our two countries and for the world,” he published the diplomat on his social network account X, formerly Twitter.

In that sense, he has stated that “History will remember (…) his contribution to relations between China and the United States“, and stated that “he will always remain alive in the hearts of the Chinese people as a highly valued old friend.”