April 10 to April 17, 1971

The United States table tennis team traveled to China as the first US sports delegation to visit since New China's founding in 1949. The event heralded a thaw in Sino-US relations, which had remained frozen for 22 years. This "ping-pong diplomacy" paved the way for US President Richard Nixon's monumental visit to Beijing.

Feb 21 to Feb 28, 1972

Nixon paid an official visit to China, during which the two sides issued the Sino-US Joint Communique, also called the Shanghai Communique after the city in which it was signed.

Dec 1 to Dec 5, 1975

US President Gerald Ford visited China.

Jan 1, 1979

China and the US established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, and the US on the same day announced the end of its official ties with Taiwan. The US withdrew all of its troops stationed on the island before the year's end and abrogated the Mutual Defense Treaty it had signed with Taiwan.

Jan 28 to Feb 5, 1979

Chinese Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping paid an official visit to the US as the first Chinese leader to travel to the country. The two sides signed agreements on scientific, technological and cultural cooperation on Jan 31.

April 26 to May 1, 1984

US President Ronald Reagan paid a state visit to China.

July 22 to 31, 1985

Chinese President Li Xiannian paid a state visit to the US - the first by a Chinese head of state since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Feb 25 to 26, 1989

US President George Bush paid a working visit to China.

Nov 19, 1993

Chinese President Jiang Zemin met with US President Bill Clinton during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal leaders' meeting in Seattle. The two met several times at subsequent APEC meetings.

Oct 26 to Nov 3, 1997

Jiang paid a state visit to the US at Clinton's invitation. On Oct 29, the two sides signed a joint statement, in which the US reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and the principles set forth in the three Sino-US joint communiques.

June 25 to July 3, 1998

Clinton paid a state visit to China. Jiang held talks with him and the two sides issued three joint statements. The statements respectively addressed South Asia issues, the Biological Weapons Convention protocol and the issue of antipersonnel landmines.

Feb 21 to 22, 2002

US President George W. Bush paid a working visit to China.

Oct 22 to 25, 2002

Jiang met with Bush during his working visit to the US. The two leaders agreed on expanding constructive and cooperative ties and enhancing top-level strategic dialogues and contacts.

Nov 19 to 21, 2005

Bush visited China. The two sides exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. The US president reiterated his country's support for the one-China policy and opposition to "Taiwan independence".

April 18 to 21, 2006

Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the US. Both sides agreed they shared broad and important strategic interests. Good bilateral relations contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, they said.

Aug 10, 2008

Hu met Bush in the Chinese capital, when the US president attended the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony and other relevant events.

Nov 15 to 18, 2009

US President Barack Obama paid a state visit to China. Hu and Obama engaged in in-depth, productive and candid discussions about China-US relations and other issues of mutual interest. The two countries reiterated, in a joint statement issued after the summit, their commitment to building a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century" and promised to cooperatively cope with common challenges.

Xinhua - China Daily