CHRONOLOGY-Russia-China relations

(Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will visit China this week in a clear departure from a tradition under which Kremlin leaders made their maiden trips to Europe.

Here are some details about relations between Russia and China, where Communists came to power in 1949.

BACKGROUND:

-- Medvedev faces a difficult balancing act with China. It is a hungry customer for Russian mineral resources. But many in Russia's elite view China's growing economic, political and military clout with suspicion.

TIMELINE:

October 2, 1949 - Soviet Union recognises Chinese People's Republic just one day after it is proclaimed in Beijing.

February 15, 1950 - Soviet Union and China sign a Treaty on Friendship, Union And Mutual Assistance. Russia takes part in more than 160 industrial projects in China.

1950-1953 - Moscow and Beijing help communist North Korea in its war with South Korea and the West.

Early 1960s - Bilateral ties weaken and grind to a halt as two countries vie for supremacy in the communist world. Border clashes take place between Soviet and Chinese troops in 1969.

Late 1982 - Two countries restart dialogue on normalisation of ties.

May 1989 - Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev visits China, agrees with Beijing's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping on full normalisation of relations.

May 1991 - Jiang Zemin visits Moscow as head of Chinese Communist party.

December 1991 - Russia, Ukraine and Belarus proclaim Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), breaking up the Soviet Union.

December 1992 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin makes his first official visit to China.

September 1994 - Russia and China agree not to target each other with nuclear weapons. The two countries also sign an agreement on demarcation of the western part of their border. A pact on the eastern border was signed in May 1991.

May 1995 - Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits Moscow to take part in celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War Two.