TIMELINE - Milestones in 3 decades of China-U.S. ties

REUTERS - Linked as never before, China and the United States face a new challenge tackling the global financial crisis, 30 years after they formally established diplomatic ties.

Here are some milestones in the two countries' relationship:

April 1971 - "Ping Pong diplomacy" kicks off when a U.S. table tennis team travels to China, thawing ties that had been frozen since the Communist Party won control over mainland China in 1949.

Feb 1972 - U.S. President Richard Nixon travels to China and meets Chairman Mao Zedong. The two countries issue the Shanghai Communique, stating that neither sought hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region and laying out the "one China" policy.

Jan 1, 1979 - Beijing and Washington establish diplomatic relations, and the United States ends 30 years of recognition of Chiang Kai-shek's rival Republic of China government in Taipei. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visits U.S. later in the month, where he dons a cowboy hat at a Texas rodeo.

June 1989 - Sino-U.S. ties frozen after Chinese army crushes student-led Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing.

May 1994 - U.S. President Bill Clinton renews Beijing's most-favoured-nation status and drops U.S. China policy of linking trade and human rights.

May 1995 - Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui visits Cornell University, after U.S. reverses policy of denying visas to Taiwan leaders. In June, China recalls its ambassador to Washington.

March 1996 - China menaces Taiwan with missile tests in run-up to island's first direct presidential elections. United States sends two aircraft-carrier battle groups to region in show of support for Taiwan. Lee wins election by landslide.

Oct 1997 - Jiang Zemin becomes first Chinese president to visit United States in 12 years.

June 1998 - Clinton visits China.

May 1999 - U.S. bombs Chinese embassy in Belgrade during NATO operations against Serbia. Washington says it is an accident, but Beijing is convinced it is deliberate.

Nov 1999 - U.S. and China agree on terms for China's entry into the World Trade Organisation -- a move finalised in 2001.

April 2001 - U.S. spy plane makes emergency landing on southern Chinese island province of Hainan after collision with Chinese fighter jet. China releases 24 crew after U.S. apology.

Oct 2001 - Jiang meets President George W. Bush for first time at Shanghai APEC summit and offers to help in U.S.-led "war on terror".

May 2002 - Bush welcomes China's future leader, Hu Jintao, to the White House for talks.

Aug 2003 - Beijing hosts the first round of six-party talks, a multilateral negotiation over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The talks mark a new diplomatic role for China and the U.S., which backed opposite sides during the Korean War of 1950-1953.

Nov 2005 - Bush visits Beijing and calls for greater political and religious freedom in China.

Aug 2008 - Beijing hosts the Olympic Games with great fanfare, giving China a chance to showcase its economic development. China captures first place in the gold medal count, displacing the U.S.

Dec 2008 - China urges the U.S. to do all it can to tame the financial crisis and avert global recession. The two pledge to continue high-level cooperation when President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.