Jimmy Carter. File photo: VCG

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu visited the US Embassy in China on December 31, 2024 to express condolences on the death of former US President Jimmy Carter. Ma mourned his passing, and made positive appraisal of his significant contributions to the development of China-US relations and friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, according to a release from Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

China deeply mourns the passing of the former US President Jimmy Carter who had long contributed to the development of China-US relations, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. Mao described Carter as a promoter and decision-maker in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to the Carter Center, Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th president of the US from 1977 to 1981, died on Sunday at the age of 100.

During Carter's presidency, in December 1978, China and the US issued the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America. On January 1, 1979, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Global Times