2011:

-- From Jan. 18 to 21, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the United States. He met with U.S. President Barack Obamaand made a five-point proposal for enhancing bilateral ties. The two countries agreed to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit in a joint statement issued during the visit.

-- From Feb. 19 to 23, a high-profile seminar on social management was held in Beijing for provincial and ministerial-level officials, at which President Hu Jintao, Vice President Xi Jinping, and Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered speeches.

Hu explained the importance and urgency of improving social management and the overall requirements for enhancing and innovating social management in a bid to stimulate vitality in society to the greatest extent, maximize factors conducive to harmony and minimize those detrimental to it.

-- From March 3 to March 13, the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, held its fourth annual session, at which CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivered a report.

-- From March 5 to 14, the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliamentary body, held its fourth annual session, at which NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo delivered a report on the work of the NPC and Premier Wen Jiabao gave a government work report. China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) was adopted at the session.

-- On April 10, China successfully launched the eighth satellite for its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network, the BeiDou Navigation System, or Compass, which marked the establishment of a basic system for the BeiDou.

-- On June 30, China's top legislature adopted an amendment to the country's individual income tax law. The amendment raised the monthly tax exemption threshold from 2,000 yuan (307.7 U.S. dollars) to 3,500 yuan.

-- On July 1, China marked the 90th founding anniversary of the CPC with a grand gathering, at which President Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech.

In his speech, Hu reviewed the history of the CPC and the achievements it had made, summarized experiences it had created, and raised the goals of improving the CPC under new circumstances and elaborated on the principles of pushing forward socialism with Chinese characteristics at the critical moment.

He stressed holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, keeping to and expanding the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, sticking to and enriching the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and adhering to and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.

-- On July 19, a rally was held in Lhasa celebrating the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Vice President Xi made a speech at the rally.

-- On Sept. 29, China launched its first unmanned space lab module the Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft on Nov. 1. The two vehicles successfully conducted the first space docking on Nov. 3, and the spacecraft made a safe return to Earth on Nov. 17.

-- On Oct. 5, 13 Chinese were killed after their ships were attacked in the Golden Triangle area of the Mekong River. Chinese police conducted a joint investigation into the case with related countries. Later, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand decided to set up the Law Enforcement Cooperation along the Mekong River Mechanism and begin joint patrols.

-- On Oct. 9, China held a grand ceremony to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, which ended 2,000 years of imperial rule. In his keynote speech, President Hu said the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation must be achieved by adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics, with patriotism and by upholding peace, development and cooperation.

-- On Oct. 15 to 18, the 17th Central Committee of the CPC held its sixth plenary session and approved a decision on deepening the reform of China's cultural system and promoting the development of the cultural industry, a move aimed at boosting the country's soft power and maintaining "cultural security."

Also at the session, the CPC Central Committee announced that the CPC's 18th national congress would be held in the second half of 2012 in Beijing.

-- On Dec. 11, President Hu gave a keynote speech at a forum to commemorate the 10th anniversary of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), pledging that China will implement a more proactive opening up strategy and open more areas to the world.

-- From Dec. 12 to 14, the central economic work conference was held in Beijing. The conference agreed to set the main theme of economic and social development as "making progress while maintaining stability" and to maintain prudent monetary policy and proactive fiscal policy in 2012.