The U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on May 8, 1999, severely damaged China-U.S. relations. On May 10, the Spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Chinese side decided to postpone high-level military exchanges with the U.S. side.

Since the beginning of 2000, with the gradual restoration and improvement of China-U.S. relations, the military exchanges between China and the U.S. has also begun to resume. From January 24 to 26, Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA, visited the U.S. for the third vice-ministerial defense consultation. From February 27 to March 2, Denise Blair, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command visited China. The two sides exchanged views on military exchanges and other issues. The Chinese side emphasized its position on the Taiwan question, and expressed its resolute opposition to the U.S. sales of weapons to Taiwan.

From April 14 to 22, China's Navy Commander Shi YunSheng visited the U.S. From August 21 to 29, The Dean of Military Academy Wang ZuXun visited the U.S. From October 25 to November 2, Chief of the General Political Department of the PLA, Yu YongBo visited the U.S.

On U.S. side, From July 11 to 15, the U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen visited China. From October 11 to 13, the U.S. Secretary of Navy Richard Danzig visited China. From November 2 to 5, Herry Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States visited China.

From May 30 to June 3, the annual meeting of Sino-U.S. consultative mechanism to strengthen military maritime safety was held in Hawaii and San Diego.

From July 31 to August 5, U.S. missile cruiser "Chancellorsville"commanded by Pacific Fleet Commander Thomas Fargo paid a port call to Qingdao. From August 21 to October 12, a Chinese naval fleet consisting of the missile destroyer "Qingdao"and supply ship "Taicang"led by Lu FangQiu, Chief of Staff of Northern Sea Fleet paid a visit to Honolulu and Seattle.

From November 28 to December 2, the U.S. under Secretary of Defense Walter Slocomber visited China for the fourth Sino-U.S. vice-ministerial defense consultation.

(Source: website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)