BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Turning China into a Western-style democracy "wasn't the objective, and if it had been, it would have been a totally impossible objective," said Chas W. Freeman, Jr., former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs on Friday.
Freeman made the remarks when attending an event in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Kissinger's secret trip to China via video link.
In December 1978 when China finally decided to open itself up and take a different direction, it did so on its own, not because of the United States, Freeman said.
"In the Shanghai Communique, both sides acknowledged that our socio-economic systems and histories were different, and said, nonetheless, we have things we can cooperate about. So let's set those differences aside and get on with cooperation, and it worked. It was very good for the United States and China," he added.
"So I completely disagree with the assertion that engagement failed, and I hope we will re-engage in the spirit with which Dr. Kissinger opened this relationship," Freeman said. Enditem