2015

01-Jan

The EU and China kick off celebrations for the 40thanniversary of diplomatic relations

2014

November

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Xi on sidelines of G20

20-24 Jan

1st round of the EU-China Investment Agreement negotiations, held in Beijing

March

Visit by Xi Jinping to EU (first Chinese president to visit the EU institutions)

2013

The 1st EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue held in Beijing

21-Nov

16th EU-China Summit including Dinner in honour of the two Presidents hosted by President Xi. Adoption of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation which covers the following issues: peace and security, prosperity, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges. The following sides events took place: Urbanisation Forum (21/11),  sub-fora and exhibition, High Level Dialogue on Cooperation and Innovation and, 8th EU-China High-Level Dialogue on Regional Policy Cooperation.

18-20 July

Visit to China of Tajani, Vice- President for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and Potocnik, Commissioner for the Environment (leading a "Mission for Growth" delegation consisting of 80 entrepreneurs)

2012

19-20 Sep

1st EU-China Mayors Forum, Brussels

20-Sep

Joint Declaration on the European Union – China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue signed by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang

01-Feb

Launch of 2012 EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue by A. Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Cai Wu, Minister of Culture of the People's Republic of China, Brussels

18-Apr

Launching of the EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue by Ms A. Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth and Ms Liu Yandong, State Councilors of the People's Republic of China (Brussels).

03-May

Visit of vice-prime minister Li Keqiang to Brussels First EU-China High Level Meeting on Energy Launching of the EU-China Partnership for Urbanisation

2011

10-14 Jan

EU-China Year of Youth, official opening ceremony in Brussels

21-28 Feb

EU-China Year of Youth, official opening ceremony in Beijing

15-18 May

President Van Rompuy's visit to China

2010

26 Apr-2 May

President Barroso and EU High Representative C. Ashton visit Beijing and also attend Shanghai Expo

29 Aug- 4 Sep

EU High Representative C. Ashton's visit to China (including first round of the High Level Strategic Dialogue and Foreign Ministerial meeting)

2009

30-Jan

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visits Brussels

2008

24-Apr

Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of the People's Republic of China for R&D Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy signed by Commissioner Potocnik and Minister Wan Gang

24-25 Apr

President José Manuel Barroso and nine Commissioners meet with their counterparts in Beijing

25-Apr

1st EU-China High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, Beijing

2006

11-Oct

Official launch of China-EU Science and Technology Year

21-Nov

China signed the ITER Agreement together with other ITER Members   

2005

20-Dec

1st EU-China Strategic Dialogue, London, UK

14-18 July

Commission President José Manuel Barroso visits China

2004

16-Apr

Commission President Romano Prodi visits China

06-May

Chinese PM Wen Jiabao visits Commission Headquarters, new dialogue initiatives signed; customs cooperation agreement initialed; political leaders recommend that the "Guidelines for Common Action" are implemented

2003

13-Oct

China releases first ever policy paper on EU

30-Oct

Signing of Agreement on cooperation in the Galileo satellite navigation programme

2002

01-Mar

Release of China country Strategy paper 2002-2006

2001

11-Dec

China becomes the 143rd Member of the World Trade Organisation

15-May

European Commission publishes Communication "EU Strategy towards China: Implementation of the 1998 Communication and Future Steps for a more Effective EU Policy"

2000

19-May

Bilateral agreement on China's WTO accession signed in Beijing

11-Jul

Visit of Prime Minister Zhu Rongji in Brussels (first visit of a Chinese Premier to the Commission)

1998

22-Dec

Signing of Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community and the Government of the People's Republic of China

25-Mar

European Commission publishes Communication "Building a Comprehensive Partnership with China"

02-Apr

1st EU-China Summit, London

1996

1-2 March

First Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM); China and EU are active participants

1995

• Launch of a specific dialogue on human rights issues
• Opening of CEIBS

15-Jul

European Commission publishes first Communication "A long-term policy for China-Europe relations"

1992

EC-China relations largely back to normal; arms embargo remains in place

Jun

• Launch of environmental dialogue
• Establishment of a new bilateral political dialogue

1990

Oct

Council and EP decide to re-establish bilateral relations step by step

1989

Jun

As a reaction to Tian An Men incidents of 4 Jun, EC freezes relations with China and imposes a number of sanctions, including an arms embargo

1988

04-Oct

Opening of the Delegation of the European Commission in Beijing

1985

21-23 May

Agreement on trade and economic cooperation signed

1983

Launch of first science and technology cooperation program

1980

16-19 Jun

First inter-parliamentary meeting between delegations of the EP and of the National People's Congress, Strasbourg.

1979

February

Roy Jenkins visits China. First visit of a Commission President. Meets Deng Xiaoping

1978

02-May

Trade agreement EEC-China signed. Inter alia, establishes Joint Committee

1975

May

Diplomatic relations established. Christopher Soames first European Commissioner to visit China