April 1, 1950: India and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations. India was one of the earliest countries to build diplomatic ties with China.

1954: Premier Zhou Enlai visits India in June. Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visits China in October. The same year, India and China worked together to promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.

1962: Border conflict interrupts healthy development of relations between the two countries.

1976: India and China restore ambassadorial relations and bilateral relations have improved since then.

1979: Indian External Affairs Minister A.B. Vajpayee makes a ground-breaking visit to China, leading to the renewal of contact at the highest political level after nearly two decades.

1981: Foreign Minister Huang Hua makes a return visit to India.

December 1988: Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visits China, marking the resumption of political dialogue at the highest level after 28 years. Both sides agree to develop and expand bilateral relations in every field.

December 1991: Premier Li Peng visits India, putting a new impetus on the growth of long-term good neighbourly relations.

1992: Border trade resumes in July after a hiatus of more than 30 years. Consulates reopen in Mumbai and Shanghai in December.

September 1993: The two sides sign the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Area.

November 1996: President Jiang Zemin visits India the first by a Chinese head of state. During his visit, the two countries agree to work towards a constructive and co-operative relationship while continuing to address differences.

1998: Bilateral relations suffer a setback after India's nuclear tests.

1999: Both countries make efforts to resume official level dialogue, with foreign ministers holding talks in February.

May 2000: Indian President K.R. Narayanan visits China.

January 2002: Premier Zhu Rongji visits India, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

June 2003: Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee visits China. The Indian side recognizes that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People's Republic of China and reiterates that it does not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India.

November 2003: The two sides conduct their first joint military exercises in China.

April 2005: Premier Wen Jiabao visits India and holds talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The same month, President Hu Jintao meets Singh in Jakarta.

2005-2006: Bilateral trade reaches US$18.7 billion. It is expected to hit US$20 billion this year.