During the 33 years since the establishment of official diplomatic ties between China and the U.S., bilateral relations between the two countries have endured through peaks and troughs. Relations have been strained by a number of crises, such as political disturbance in 1989, the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, the U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia in 1999, and the collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese jet over the South China Sea in 2001. However, all of these obstacles were overcome, and Sino-U.S. saw continuous and healthy development.

On January 1, 1979, the People's Republic of China and the United States issued a joint statement announcing the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. From January 28 to February 5, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and his wife Zhuo Lin made an eight-day official visit to United States, at the invitation of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife. (file photo)

Consensus and difference in Sino-U.S. cooperation

Bilateral relations between China and the U.S. have continued to improve, based on consensus and common interests in different times. From 1979 to 1989, relations between the two countries were dominated by the need to deal with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Between 1990 and 2001, trade proved to be a matter of common interest for both countries.

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, the fight against global terrorism became the new basis for cooperation between the two countries. Therefore, due to mutual economic and trade benefits and security cooperation, the two countries have enjoyed a good relationship in recent years.

However, differences remain. Since 1979, China and the U.S. have extensively negotiated the Taiwan issue, which eventually resulted in the signing of the "August 17 Communiqué" in 1982. After 1989, human rights once against became a bone of contention between China and the U.S. From 1990 to 2001, the so-called Chinese increase of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) became a hot topic.

However, after then-U.S. President George W. Bush reaffirmed that the U.S. would uphold its "One China" policy in 2006, bilateral cooperation in trade and regional security has been restored. It is clear, therefore, that both countries desire a healthy, long-lasting relationship, despite their existing differences.