U.S. President Nixon held a ¡°serious and frank¡± conversation with President Mao Zedong during his weekly visit to China.

After the efforts of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other elderly politicians, on December 16, 1978, the United States recognized the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government in China and retained unofficial relations with Taiwan's culture, business and other aspects.The United States told the Taiwan authorities that since January 1, 1979, the United States terminated the "diplomatic relations" between the United States and Taiwan; at the same time, it will also terminate the "Joint Defense Treaty" between the United States and Taiwan and withdraw from the US military and military institutions in Taiwan.

On January 1, 1979, China-U.S. diplomatic relations were formally established.