August

1

China and the United States hold their first ever strategic dialogue in Beijing with a view to increasing transparency and improving bilateral relations. The closed-door dialogue, the first of its kind since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1979, was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick.

2

China succeeds in launching its 21st retrievable science and technology experimental satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The satellite, which would be used to carry out scientific research, land surveying and mapping, and experiments in outer space, was projected with a Long March-2C carrier rocket.

10

China's central bank inaugurates its second headquarters in Shanghai. Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor of the People's Bank of China, said the Shanghai headquarters is designed to help the bank better perform its functions in regulating the Chinese financial market and improving its services for Shanghai as the country's financial hub.

18-25

The first China-Russia joint military exercises are held. The war game, code-named "Peace Mission 2005," began in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok. The second and third stages of the drills were conducted in east China's Shandong Peninsula. The exercises were neither aimed at any third party nor concerned with the interests of any third country, and posed no threat to any country, said the Chinese and Russian chiefs of general staffs.