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STORY: The White House on Thursday expressed regret over a meeting between former U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, suggesting he received more attention than some sitting top level U.S. officials that recently visited.

That includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said “It's unfortunate that a private citizen can meet with the defense minister and have a communication and the United States can't.”

Apart from a sit-down with Xi, Kissinger also met Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu, who declined direct talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when they both attended a forum in Singapore last month.

Kissinger was also described by Xi as an “old friend” whom China will never forget.

His visit came at a time when Washington and Beijing struggled to mend frayed relations.

Kirby said the administration officials “look forward to hearing from Secretary Kissinger when he returns, to hear what he heard, what he learned, what he saw."

Kissinger, who is widely respected in China, served as secretary of state and national security advisor in the 1970s and played a key diplomatic role in normalizing ties between the two countries.

He paid regular visits to Beijing even after he left office.

U.S. President Joe Biden said last month he wants to meet Xi in the coming months, with some officials hoping for face-to-face talks as soon as September’s Group of 20 summit in India.