EU-China RELATIONS: A timeline

1975 May: Diplomatic relations established after a visit of European Commissioner Christopher Soames.

1978 April: European Commission (EC) and China sign a Trade Agreement in Brussels.

1985 May: The EC and China sign a Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement in Brussels.

1988 October: A delegation of the EC opens in Beijing.

1998 April: The first European Union (EU)-China Summit takes place in London.

1998 April: The EC adopts a policy paper on "Building a Comprehensive partnership with China".

2000 May: The EU and China conclude bilateral negotiations on China's accession to the World Trade Organization.

2001 June: The EC releases a Communique entitled "EU Strategy Towards China: Implementation of the 1998 Communication and Future Steps for a More Effective EU Policy."

2003 October: The Sixth EU-China Summit takes place in Beijing. The summit is the first occasion for leaders from both sides to meet since China issued its policy paper on EU relations, and the EU approved its strategy for relations with China in the coming years.

2004 February: The EU and China sign the milestone Approved Destination Status agreement.

2005 September: The Eighth EU-China summit is held in Beijing. Agreements on various sectors are signed.

2006 October: The European Commission adopts a new China strategy paper and a working document on trade and investment, which reframes the EU's approach to its partnership with China.

2007 January: EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner visits China for the official launch of negotiations on a comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

(China Daily 03/17/2008 page6)