Internal Section

January 1

Message from Standing Committee of Fifth National People's Congress of People's Republic of China to compatriots in Taiwan for reunification of the motherland. Message proposes exchange of mail, trade and air and shipping services between Taiwan and mainland at early date. At meeting of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Deng Xiaoping says issue is on agenda. On same day, Xu Xiangqian, minister of National Defense, declares an end to shelling at Dajinmen and Xiaojinmen (Greater and Lesser Quemoys), Dadam (Tatan), Erdan (Erhtan) and other islands.

January 11

CPC decides to remove labels of landlord, rich peasant from people who had been living by their labor since collectivization in 1956, but not from those who persisted in their reactionary stand.

January 18-April 3

Beijing, CPC discussion on basic principles: March 30, Deng Xiaoping enumerates four cardinal principles for realization of four modernization socialist road, proletarian dictatorship, leadership of Communist Party, Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.

March 1

On suggestion of CPC Central Committee, State Council. raises purchasing price of 18 farm and sideline products including grain, cotton, edible oil, pork. Farmers' income rises by 10.8 billion yuan in the year.

June 18-July 1

Beijing, Second Session of the Fifth National People's Congress: Endorses focusing on economy. Approves drafts of Criminal Law of People's Republic of China, Law of People's Republic of China on Joint Ventures With Chinese and Foreign investment and five others.

July 15

CPC Central Committee and State Council ratify four special economic zones in Guangdong and Fujian, and special flexibility in their economic ties with foreign countries.

September 25-28

Beijing, Fourth Plenary Session of 11th CPC Central Committee: Approves Decisions of CPC Central Committee on Some Questions Concerning Acceleration of Agricultural Development.

Elects Zhao Ziyang and Peng Zhen additional members of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee.

September 29

30th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China celebration. Ye Jianying recalls great achievements of Chinese Party and people since liberation, makes self-criticism of Party's mistakes during cultural revolution.

¡¡ Foreign Relations

January 1

Diplomatic relations established with the United States.

January 7

Chinese government issues statement condemning Vietnam's large-scale military aggression in Kampuchea and declares China will resolutely support Kampuchea's national war of self-defense to the end.

January 8

Diplomatic relations established with Djibouti.

January 29-Fehruary 5

Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping visits the United States and holds talks with President Jimmy Carter. At the reception held by six American groups on January 30, Deng explains China's position and policies concerning the world situation, Sino-US relations and the Taiwan problem. On January 3 1, China and the United States sign scientific and technological agreement and cultural agreement.

February 6-8

On his way back to China, Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping visits Japan and holds talks with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira.

February 8

Diplomatic relations established with Portugal.

February 17

Chinese frontier troops launch a counterattack against Vietnamese aggressors in Guangxi and Yunnan frontier zones. From August of 1 978, the armed forces of Vietnam invaded China's 'frontier zone 705 times resulting in more than 300 Chinese casualties.

March 16

Frontier forces of Chinese People's Liberation Army, after attaining their set goals in the self defensive counterattack against the Vietnamese aggressors, withdraw from Vietnam.

March 28-29

US Senate and House of Representatives pass the Taiwan Relations Act which is signed into law on April 10 by President Carter. According to the act, the United States could provide Taiwan ``defensive materials'' and ``defensive service'' to maintain its capacity to resist any military actions or forces that would endanger Taiwan's security and Taiwan's social and economic systems. The gist of many regulations in act violates the joint communique that establishes` Sino-US diplomatic relations and also violates the established principles of international law.

Earlier, when US Congress was still discussing the act, Chinese government made representations to US government. O& March 3, Chai Zeming, Chinese ambassador to US was ordered to pass on oral message to US Secretary of State, pointing out that China could not accept any law that would interfere with China's internal affairs, that would give US-Taiwan relations an official nature and that would maintain in disguised . form the mutual defense treaty. On March 16, Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua meets with American ambassador to China Leonard Woodcock, and expresses China's position on this act. Thereafter, on April 19, Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping, when meeting with visiting delegation of US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, points out that the political basis of normalizing Sino-US relations is that there is but one China, and now the political basis is being disturbed. He says that China is not satisfied with American Congress' passing of the Taiwan Relations Act; that the act, in essence, denies the recognition of there being only one China; and that President Carter stated that he would abide by the Sino-US joint communique when implementing the act and China was seeing what would happen. On April 28, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends note to American Embassy in China, expressing China's firm and unshakable stand against ``two Chinas'' and ``one China and one Taiwan'' policies. Note says: Sino-US relations would be damaged if the US did not abide by the joint communique .and continued to attempt to intervene in China's internal affairs.

April 3

Resolution passed by seventh session of Standing Committee of Fifth National People's Congress decides not to extend Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance Between China and Soviet Union (signed in Moscow on February 14, 1950 and coming into force on April 11 of the same year, it was valid for 30 years and due to expire on April 1 1, 1980.) On same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua notifies Soviet side of this decision when he meets with Soviet Ambassador to China J.S. Shcherbakov. Chinese government proposes to Soviet government that negotiations be held between China and Soviet Union for resolution of outstanding issues and improvement of relations between two countries.

June 22

Diplomatic relations established with Ireland.

August 9

Beijing. Hoang Van Hoan, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam, who recently arrived in Beijing after shaking off political persecution by the Vietnamese authorities, gives a press conference and distributes his Message to Vietnamese Compatriots.

October 15-November 6

Premier Hua Guofeng visits France, Federal Republic of Germany, Britain and Italy.

October 17-November 30

Moscow. First round of talks concerning relations between China and Soviet Union is held with both sides expressing their positions on state relations. On November 30, sixth meeting ends the first round of talks, with the second round set to be held in Beijing.

At the end of 1979, Soviet troops invade Afghanistan. On January 20, 1980, spokesman for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that Soviet aggression in Afghanistan endangers world peace and China's security and creates a new obstacle to normalization of Sino-Soviet relations. Under such circumstances, a second round of talks between China and Soviet Union is out of the question for the time being.

November 26

International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces it has ratified Executive Council's Nagoya resolution passed in October to formally restore China's legitimate standing in the IOC.

December 10

Chinese delegation at UN Geneva Office sends a letter to Secretariat of Committee on Disarmament saying that China will take part in committee's work and meetings from 1980.