NANJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. relations are important to world peace, Henry Alfred Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State, said in east China's Jiangsu Province on Saturday.

    It is the consensus of Chinese leaders and U.S. administrations that bilateral relationship is key to world peace and development, said Kissinger at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Center for Chinese and American Studies by Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University.

    Cooperation between China and the United States would bring more opportunities to the world, although the two countries may hold different opinions, he said.

    Kissinger warned that the two countries should be cautious and not to impose pressures on each other, so as to achieve the maximum of mutual benefits.

    The 56th U.S. Secretary of State, Kissinger has been to China for more than 50 times.