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.