April

2

The Chinese oceanic research ship Dayang Yihao sets off from Qingdao for a transoceanic research expedition. The 300-day mission focused on investigation of hydrothermal sulfide resources, deep-sea biological research and environment monitoring.

20-28

President Hu Jintao pays a state visit to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and the Philippines. In Indonesia, he also attended the 2005 Asia-Africa Summit and the golden jubilee commemoration of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung. The president expounded the Chinese Government's stance on joining Asian and African countries for common development and signed the Declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.

26-May 3

At the invitation of the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Hu Jintao, Chairman Lien Chan of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party and his entourage visits Nanjing, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. On April 29, the two party chiefs held the first summit between the CPC and the Kuomintang in six decades.