Brother of former US president helped to strengthen relations with 30 visits

Edward Nixon, like his older brother Richard the former president of the United States, had a special relationship with China.

"My great-uncle was a tremendous ambassador for the United States to China, a goodwill ambassador," Christopher Nixon Cox said. "He was able to forge people-to-people relationships which are so important for maintaining a stable US-China relationship."

Edward Nixon died on Wednesday at age 88 in a nursing facility in Bothell, a Seattle suburb, according to the Richard Nixon Foundation in Yorba Linda, California.

Following his brother's historic trip to China in February 1972, the younger Nixon began his own ventures in the Asian country on a business trip in the early 1980s.

In the decades hence, Edward Nixon made more than 30 goodwill missions to China and helped bridge the relationship between the peoples of the two countries. He always received warm welcomes from top Chinese leaders and ordinary people.

The Nixon Foundation said that it received a call from the Chinese consulate-general in Los Angeles upon Edward Nixon's death.

Shi Yuanqiang, deputy Chinese consul-general in Los Angeles, extended his condolences on behalf of Ambassador Cui Tiankai and Chinese Consul-General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping, who is currently in China.

"Recently, we met with Mr Edward Nixon at a reception for the 40th anniversary of US-China relations in San Gabriel, California. We were very impressed by his willingness to travel from Washington to be with us and for his goodwill in strengthening US-China relations on his many visits to China," Shi said. "The Chinese people will remember him like they do President Nixon. He was a good friend of China."

Cox said Edward Nixon was always concerned that future generations understood the importance of maintaining a solid US-China relationship and that they make a positive difference in the world.

"Of course, Uncle Edward had a strong interest in a stable US-China relationship, and I agree, I think that the relationship between China and the US would be the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century," Cox said.

Edward Nixon was the fifth son of Frank and Hannah Nixon and had been the last surviving brother of the former president.

A geologist and Navy veteran, Edward Nixon worked on his brother's 1968 and 1972 presidential campaigns and served as co-chairman of the Nixon re-election committee in 1972. He was an original member of the board of directors of the Richard Nixon Foundation.

On Nov 15, 2018, Edward Nixon and his nephew Donald Nixon attended a dinner commemorating the 40th anniversary of the US and China resuming diplomatic relations, hosted by the Nixon Foundation.

Edward Nixon made a toast to the younger generation.

"Why don't we propose a toast to our children, worldwide. They have to pick up the mistakes that we make, and make it better," he said.

When asked about his thoughts on the 40-year relationship between the US and China, Edward Nixon had said that there should be more exchanges and communication between the two countries.

"It's just the beginning; we've just started, but the kids got to learn something, teach them, everything," he said. "Bring them here to learn. We should go over there and learn and listen. Nobody talks until you hear everything."

In a statement, Richard Nixon's daughters, Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, called their uncle "our family's rock" since the former president died in 1994.