Kissinger Hears Call for Better China Ties : Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Qian Qichen delivers a toast. He says differences in ‘social system and ideology’ should be overlooked.

Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, speaking at a banquet for former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, said Wednesday that China hopes for a speedy end to disputes with the United States.

Qian said the “objective existence of major, long-term common interests” between the United States and China gives Beijing hope that friendly relations between the two countries can soon be restored, the official New China News Agency reported.

China has blamed the strained relations on actions taken by the United States since June 3-4, when the People’s Liberation Army was brought in to suppress pro-democracy protests in Beijing. The United States blames the situation on China’s decision to use force against the demonstrators and to engage in continuing repression.

In his toast to Kissinger, who played a key role in the restoration of U.S.-China ties in the early 1970s, Qian noted that relations between the two countries are now at “a difficult and critical moment.”

But looking back over the years, he said: “We find that the dissimilarities between China and the United States in social system and ideology have not hampered the establishment and development of those relations.” Such differences should not be allowed to become an obstacle now, he said.

Qian said that China has tried very hard in recent months to protect Sino-U.S. relations but that “things do not depend on our side alone.” He urged the United States to take the initiative in restoring friendly ties.

Qian’s comments came a day after House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on a broad package of stiffened sanctions against China, including bans on high-tech exports, nuclear cooperation, arms sales, satellite technology and financial help from the Overseas Private Investment Corp. The legislation, which goes further than sanctions President Bush imposed in June, is expected to win full congressional approval.

In the part of his remarks reported by the New China News Agency, Qian made no mention of the congressional action. China has previously protested sanctions as interference in its internal affairs.

Kissinger’s visit comes just a week after a trip to China by former President Richard M. Nixon. The Chinese look on both as old friends who can function as unofficial emissaries between the two governments.

Qian praised Kissinger on Wednesday as having “the courage of a statesman and the foresight of a strategist.”

Earlier Wednesday, Kissinger met separately with Vice Premiers Yao Yilin and Wu Xueqian, with Li Ruihuan, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee .

Kissinger is visiting China as a private citizen and guest of the Foreign Ministry. According to the New China News Agency, he said in a toast to Qian that U.S. interests require the U.S. government to seek greater understanding with China. But for U.S. foreign policy to receive support from the American people, he said, that policy must reflect “our historic democratic values as well as our national interest.”

Kissinger said the two countries should take steps together to put relations on a smoother path, the news agency reported.