February 21-28, 1972 U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, with a Sino-U.S. joint communique released in Shanghai on February 28.

February 22, 1973 The two countries announced the establishment of liaison offices.

December 1-5, 1975 U.S. President Gerald Ford visited China.

December 16, 1978 The two countries simultaneously issued a joint communique calling for the establishment of diplomatic relations. The communique said the two countries fully recognized each other and would formally set up diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979.

January 1, 1979 China and the United States officially established diplomatic relations. The U.S. State Department formally notified the Taiwan authorities that the U.S.-Taiwan Mutual Defense Treaty would be terminated on January 1, 1980.

January 28-February 5, 1979 Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping paid an official visit to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

February 28, 1979 The United States and Taiwan closed their "embassies."

April 10, 1979 U.S. President Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act.

December 31, 1979 America terminated the U.S.-Taiwan Mutual Defense Treaty signed in 1954.

August 17, 1982 China and the United States issued a joint communique on gradually reducing and finally resolving the issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

January 10-16, 1984 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang visited the United States.

April 26-May 1, 1984 U.S. President Ronald Reagan visited China.

July 22-31, 1985 Chinese President Li Xiannian visited the United States.

February 24-27, 1989 U.S. President George H.W. Bush visited China.

October 2, 1989 Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen offered four suggestions for improving Sino-U.S. relations.

June 1991 America announced three sanctions on China—suspending exports of satellites and related components, restricting exports of high-speed computers and prohibiting exports of missile-related products to some Chinese companies.

November 19, 1993 Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with U.S. President Bill Clinton in Seattle during an informal meeting of APEC leaders.

May 26, 1994 U.S. President Clinton announced the extension of the most-favored nation (MFN) trade status to China, along with a decision to delink MFN from human rights issues.

November 14, 1994 Jiang and Clinton met in Indonesia during an informal meeting of APEC leaders.

October 24, 1995 Jiang met with Clinton while the Chinese leader was attending activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.

November 24, 1996 Jiang met Clinton in the Philippines during an informal meeting of APEC leaders.

May 19, 1997 Clinton announced the decision to extend China's MFN status for another year.

October 26-November 2, 1997 President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to the United States.

April 6-14, 1999 Premier Zhu Rongji made an official visit to America.

March 2001 Vice Premier Qian Qichen visited America.

February 20-21, 2002 U.S. President George W. Bush visited China.

April 27-May 3, 2002 Vice President Hu Jintao visited America.

December 2003 Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to the United States and stated five principles to maintain a healthy and sustainable Sino-U.S. economic and trade relationship, which were backed by President Bush.

August 1, 2005 Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick held the first Sino-U.S. strategic dialogue in Beijing.

September 13, 2005 Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush met on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, stating that the two countries would promote mutual trust and develop their constructive cooperative relationship.

November 8, 2005 China and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on textile and clothing trade in London.

November 19-21, 2005 U.S. President George W. Bush paid an official visit to China.

December 7-8, 2005 The second Sino-U.S. strategic dialogue was held in the United States.

April 18-21, 2006 Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the United States. In his speech entitled Promoting the All-Around Constructive and Cooperative China-U.S. Relationship, Hu offered a six-point proposal on Sino-U.S. ties.

November 8, 2006 The third Sino-U.S. strategic dialogue was held in Beijing.

December 14-15, 2006 China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue debuted.