China names Olympic artistic gym team

The combo photo shows the members of China's men's gymnastic team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games gym competition. China's national gymnastic team announced the name list for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games gym competition July 8, 2004. They are: Li Xiaopeng, Yang Wei, Huang Xu, Xing Aowei (Top L to R), Teng Haibin (Bottom L), Xiao Qin (C); Substitute players: Feng Jing (C R), Liang Fuliang (Bottom C) and Lu Bin (Bottom R).

Hu meets US National Security Adviser

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in Beijing's Great Hall of the People July 9, 2004.

"Gathering of outstanding overseas Chinese youth in China"

Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, presents flag to university students attending the 5th"Gathering of outstanding overseas Chinese youth in China" on July 8th. In order to "have understanding of modern China and seek cultural origin", a total of 230 outstanding overseas university students of Chinese origin will have an 18-day exchange in Guangzhou, Xi'an, Shanghai and Beijing.

Argentina sweeps Ecuador 6-1 in Copa America 2004

The Argentinean national team confirmed their status as hot favourites by making short work of Ecuador with a 6-1 demolition. The match was sealed in the second half, when the Argentineans made the most of the superior talent of their players to score 5 goals.

Athens Olympic flame reaches Cyprus

The Olympic Torch arrived in Cyprus on July 8 morning, final stop in its long journey back to Athens. The journey ends at Larnaca airport where the Olympic Flame will depart for Crete, first stop of the Greek relay.

Songcheng water-splashing festival in Hangzhou

Tourists enjoy themselves on the third Songcheng water-splashing festival opened in Songcheng scenic spot in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 8, 2004. A month-long water-splashing festival has been held here in July each year since 2002, which has won a trourist boom in the hot season.

China's fashion week opens in Paris

A model presents this creation by Chinese designer Ji Wenbo during China's fashion week opened in Paris, capital of France, July 7, 2004.

Athens Olympic flame arrives in Sofia

Bulgarian children wait for the arrival of the Olympic torch during the Athens 2004 Olympic torch relay in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 7, 2004. In all, 120 athletes and other prominent people carried the flame along the relay route of about 50 km in Bulgaria on Wednesday. The Olympic Flame travels to 34 cities in 27 countries en route to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The third AU summit concludes

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (L), the newly-elected chairman of the African Union (AU), and AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare attend a press conference after the closure of the third AU summit in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, July 8, 2004.

White tiger cub

One of the three white tiger cubs roars at his habitat in the safari park in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, July 8, 2004. The three baby tigers meet the public for the first time on Thursday after they were born on June 3.

Ship lock of the Three Gorges Project works well

Several ships sail in the diversion channel after passing the permanent ship lock of the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, July 6, 2004. Official announcement said on Thursday that the permanent ship locks function well with a water level between 135 m and 139 m, thus the trial navigation will be turned into full functional navigation since July 8, 2004. The construction of the ship lock began in 1994. It started its trial navigation on June 16, 2003 and was open to public on June 18 the same year.

Ships of China and ROK collide in NE China

Rescuers cover a seriously injured sailor with quilt off the shore of Lushun City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 8, 2004. The Chinese ship Jingan No. 6 collided with a vessel of the Republic of Korea (ROK) here around 6:30 a.m. Thursday. The collision caused the Chinese ship sank and all its 19 crew fell into the water. 18 sailors were rescued and one was still missing. Among the rescued sailors, one was in critical condition and another was dead. The ROK ship has been required to head to Dalian for maritime investigation.