Can the West learn from the late US geopolitics and business intellectual giants Henry Kissinger and Charlie Munger, and their very profound perspectives? In particular, their dispassionate and erudite admiration of China’s peaceful rise offers invaluable lessons and a blueprint for cooperation that can ensure long-term global stability.

The world lost two preeminent leaders with the passing of Munger and Kissinger. A Harvard University summa cum laude graduate and a former professor, Kissinger was a luminary in US foreign policy, while Harvard Law School magna cum laude graduate Charlie Munger was a billionaire investor and a stalwart collaborator of business icon Warren Buffett. Both epitomized the apex of Western intellectual discernment.

German-owned, New York-based Business Insider reported: “Munger was respected for his immense wealth and his recognition of China’s achievements. … Kissinger represented a bygone era when the US was more invested in benefiting from China’s growth than curbing its potential dominance.”

Henson Tiu Laurel, founder of the Philippines’ Diliman Book Club and a former University of the Philippines educator, said: “Two of the brightest stars in the American intellectual firmament, centenarian Henry Kissinger and almost-centenarian Charlie Munger, … were both ardent admirers of China. 

“They had the vision with breadth and depth to look on China from a global-historical perspective, to view China as, what (British author) Martin Jacques had called a civilization-state. Kissinger’s views are laid out in his book On China, while Munger up to the very end kept on investing in many businesses in China. They also had a massive following in China.”

Kissinger’s perspective, eloquently laid out in his book On China, navigates the intricate landscape of historical forces and global power dynamics. Emphasizing dialogue and cooperation, Kissinger advocates for a strategic partnership between the West and China, steering away from confrontational postures.

His recognition of China as a unique civilization-state underscores the necessity for geopolitical leaders to adopt a global-historical perspective. The lessons are clear — engage in thoughtful diplomacy, respect cultural intricacies, and cultivate collaboration for enduring global stability and human progress. Kissinger’s wisdom offers a blueprint for transcending ideological divides, fostering a world where shared interests prevail over adversarial tensions.

Political leaders can draw inspiration from Kissinger to transcend ideological divides through dialogue and strategic partnerships, thus fostering a stable global order. Simultaneously, Munger’s lessons for business leaders include the importance of cultivating adaptability, discipline, and farsighted strategies in a dynamic economic landscape

One of Kissinger’s lasting legacies was his agreeing to the language that eventually became part of the 1972 Shanghai Communique and the one-China principle as the foundation of China-US relations: “The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.”

Munger, the vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, provides a unique lens into China’s phenomenal economic trajectory. Munger’s investments in Chinese businesses attest to his deep appreciation for the country’s socioeconomic and technological progress. His admiration extends beyond economic indicators to the great discipline of the Chinese people, their remarkable work ethic, and a commitment to long-term strategic thinking.

Munger’s perspective underscores the importance of adaptability and foresight in the business landscape. For leaders navigating economic complexities, Munger’s lessons in resilience, discipline and farsightedness are ideal guiding principles. China’s peaceful economic ascent, marked by strategic pivots and long-term vision, aligns with Munger’s principles.

Kissinger and Munger’s insights call for nuanced narratives. Recent years have witnessed an unfortunate surge in unfair and negative reports on China, fueled in part by anti-Asian sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic and by adversarial geopolitical posturing.

In contrast to past Western powers’ rises accompanied by colonial military conquests and gunboat diplomacy, the peaceful ascent of China is rooted in the Chinese people’s seemingly boundless capacity for hard work and creativity, guided by a pragmatic, science-driven government.

Western media should strive for a more-comprehensive and less-biased portrayal of China’s multifaceted rise, recognizing the wisdom inherent in this epochal, peaceful ascent.

Political leaders can draw inspiration from Kissinger to transcend ideological divides through dialogue and strategic partnerships, thus fostering a stable global order. Simultaneously, Munger’s lessons for business leaders include the importance of cultivating adaptability, discipline, and farsighted strategies in a dynamic economic landscape.

Let us not merely admire the wisdom of Kissinger and Munger but internalize their lessons. The convergence of their diplomatic finesse and business acumen serves as a guiding light toward a better global future where collaboration triumphs, economic strategies are disciplined, and collective intellect propels humanity toward understanding and prosperity.

The author is a multiaward-winning writer, columnist of The Philippine Star newspaper, an economic and political analyst, a college teacher, and a real estate entrepreneur.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.