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 30 years ago today the United States and China made their relationship official. January 1st, 1979 marked the official start of diplomatic relations between the two countries. And while the move put both China and the United States on a new political and economic path, the normalization of relations also had a geo-political effect on global affairs at the time. Though official recognition came at the start of 1979, it took a number of years to lay the groundwork for mutual economic cooperation. But 30 years on, experts on both sides will agree that without one another, China and the United States would be drastically different countries.
Ni hao and 新年快乐, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. In this edition of the show we’re discussing the 30 year anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations. So let's get started.
(Music)
First we’ll hear from the people involved with the former US President who formalize Sino-US diplomatic relations. Dr. Liu Yawei is the Director of the China Program at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
(Dialogue with Liu)
And after we take a short break, we'll come back and speak with a Chinese expert.
(Promo)
Ni hao, and 新年快乐, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. I'm Paul James in Beijing. On this, the first day of 2009, we're talking about the 30th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations, which officially began on January 1st, 1979. For more on this we’re joined on the line now by Professor Tao Wenzhao, Senior Research Fellow with the Department of American Diplomacy at the Institute of American Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
(Dialogue with Tao)
And with that we close out this edition of People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. Though the initial path was forged by leaders before them, had Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter not signed their names on the dotted lines, the Sino-US relationship may never have been so properly mature. Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn. For Executive Director Zhao Yang and Producers Chen Mo and Xu Yang, I’m Paul James in Beijing. We'll talk to you tomorrow.
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