NEW YORK - Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said here Monday the United States and China should "find a way to cooperate" to avoid strategic confrontation.

Kissinger made the remarks while discussing his new book "On China" with Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations.

When talking about how China and the United States should interact in East Asia, Kissinger said, "China and the US should have a cooperative relationship, so that they are not contesting who dominates the area."

Referring to the cross-Strait relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Kissinger said that he hopes the issue "would be solved by negotiations between the Chinese parties and not by any attempt by the United States that settles the issue on behalf of the Chinese parties."

The one-hour discussion also covered the past and future of US-China relations, as well as Kissinger's personal experiences and anecdotes during his distinguished career, many of which are included in his book.

Published on May 17, "On China" examines how China has approached diplomacy, strategy and negotiation throughout its history, and reflects on the consequences of this history for the global balance of power in the 21st century. Kissinger's book draws on historical records as well as his own discussions with Chinese leaders since 1971.

Kissinger made his first visit to China in July 1971. His secret visit paved the way for a groundbreaking 1972 summit meeting in Beijing between then US President Richard Nixon and China's late Chairman Mao Zedong.

The summit eventually led to the normalization of US-China relations.