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.

 

Special Coverage: Hu Visits US  Chinese President Hu Jintao visits the United States on Jan. 18-21.

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.