Better Sino-US ties in both nations' interest

Bilateral ties between China and the United States have developed over the past 30 years along a generally tortuous but "forward moving" road.

Since diplomatic relations were established on Jan 1,1979, the two countries maintained a smooth relationship until May 1989. Both sides reached a new agreement on the long-controversial US arms sales to Taiwan during this period, clearing away one of the largest obstacles to development of the bilateral ties. It is by no means fortuitous that diplomatic normalization between the two countries coincided with China's adoption of the reform and opening-up initiative. A normalized relationship with the White House formed an important component in China's development strategy mapped out by late leader Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up program. The move turned out to be a big step in helping open a new page in Sino-US relations.

In the summer of 1989, bilateral ties plunged into a low point owing to the US intervention in China's move to crack down on a political turbulence. Afterwards, the two countries had to look upon each other's status in their own international strategic maps and tried to overcome the hurdles. Relations have gradually come back on the track of a smooth development.