Amid a steep downturn in relations with the United States, China has looked to a meeting with former US national security adviser and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to revive positive momentum.

The 100-year-old Kissinger on Wednesday met with the ruling Communist Party’s diplomat Wang Yi, who said it was “impossible” to transform, encircle or contain China, reiterating top Chinese leaders’ statements on what they say the U.S. is trying to do based on differences over trade, technology, Taiwan and China’s human rights record.