This Day, That Year

Editor's Note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy.

After the two countries established diplomatic relations on Jan 1, 1979, on Jan 28, 1979, China's Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping began a nine-day visit to the United States at the invitation of US President Jimmy Carter.

The visit, the first by a Chinese leader to the US, opened a new chapter in the history of China-US relations. Although there have been ups and downs, Sino-US relations have steadily advanced over the past 39 years.