US Jessica Long wins women's 100m freestyle S8

Jessica Long of the U.S. jubilates after winning the women's 100 meters freestyle S8 event of the Athens Paralympic Games in Greece, Sept. 21, 2004. She won the gold medal and broke the Paralympic record with a time of 1 minute 09.67 seconds.

Serena Williams, Sharapova into last eight

Serena Williams of US reacts a ball in the WTA tour of the China Open in Beijing Sept.22, 2004. Williams beat her Russian rival 2:1 and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Li/Sun reach 2nd round in China Open

Chinese Li Ting and Sun Tiantian beat Jennifer Hopkins from USA and Janet LEE from China's Taipei 2-0 (6-2, 6-2) to reach the women's doubles second round in China Open.

Chinese designer's work displayed at London Fashion Week

A models wears an outfit designed by Chris Liu during his Spring/Summer 2005 show at London's Fashion Week Sept. 21, 2004.

Top legislator meets Sultan of Brunei

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Beijing, Sept. 22, 2004.

CPPCC conference held in Beijing

Jia Qinglin (C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over the seventh session of the Standing Committee of the 10th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, Capital of China, Sept. 22, 2004. The conference was held to discuss the important guidelines of the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Comittee that concluded on last Sunday. Zeng Qinghong (2nd R), another member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and also member of the Secretariat of CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a report on learning the communique on the decision on enhancing the Party's governance capabilities issued after the 4th plenum of 16th CPC Central Committee.

Exhibition of sculptures kicks off in Shanghai

A man looks at a sculpture displayed in the Nanjing Road in Shanghai Sept. 22, 2004. The Fourth Exhibition on Sculptures by Young People kicked off recently in Shanghai. The show will run till Nov. 20, 2004.

First batch of foreign tourists arrives Beijing for Tourism Festival

Spanish tourists are greeted by beautiful flowers upon their arrival at the Capital International Airport in Beijing Sept. 22, 2004. They were the first batch of foreign tourists to have arrived in Beijing for this year's Beijing International Tourism Festival. About 37 performing teams from 26 countries will take part in a grand parade near Yongdingmen Gate in this capital city of China on Sept. 25, 2004.

Renovation Renovation on the Tian'anmen gate tower begins

Local workers put up scaffold to prepare for a renovation on the Tian'anmen gate tower in Beijing Sept. 22, 2004. The Chinese people are to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1.

Mass wedding ceremony held in Nanjing

A newlywed couple talk to each other at a mass wedding ceremony held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province Sept. 22, 2004. Some 24 newlywed couples took part in the mass wedding ceremony, during which a tree was planted and peace pigeons were set free by the couples on Wednesday.

Car bomb attack rocks Baghdad

Heavy smoke rises from the damaged cars at the site of a car bombing in west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2004. A blast caused by car bomb rocked the outside areas of a recruiting center here on Wednesday, killing at least five and wounding 56 others.

Chinese premier visits Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev (R) meets with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 22, 2004.

Japan hopes to be permanent member of UN secuirty council

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivers a speech to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2004. Junichiro Koizumi expressed the hope that his country wants permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council.

UN General Assembly starts general debate

Delegates attend the general debate of the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2004.

President Hu meets Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Speaker Kono Yohei of Japan's House of Representatives in Beijing, September. 22, 2004.