Tian'anmen decorated with flowers

The Tian'anmen Square is decorated with more than 300,000 pots of flowers as tourists begin to flock to Beijing with the week-long National Day holiday drawing near. The country is set to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on October 1, 2004.

China, Russia make preparations for meeting of PMs

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (L) shakes hands with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov during the eighth meeting of the committee for regular meeting of prime ministers of China and Russia in Moscow Sept. 22, 2004. The two reviewed the work of the committee in the past year, reached consensus on various issues, and made necessary preparations for the upcoming ninth regular meeting of the two countries' prime ministers.

Liu Xiang defeats Allan Johnson at Yokohama Super Track and Field Meet

World record holder Liu Xiang (L) of China strides during the men's 110-metre hurdles competition at the Yokohama Super Track and Field Meet in Japan, Sept. 23, 2004. Liu defeated Allen Johnson to claim the title with a time of 13.31 seconds.

Third meeting of SCO Prime Ministers held in Bishkek

Premier Wen Jiabao (L3) takes a group photo with his counterparts of SCO members, premier of Kyrgyzstan Tanayev (L4), premier of Kazakhstan Akhmetov (L2), Russian premier Fradkov (R3), vice premier of Tajikistan Ghulomov (R2), vice premier of Uzbekistan Sultanov (R1) and general secretary of SCO Zhang Deguang in Bishkek Sept. 23.

Li Na played very well: Kuznetsova

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia returns a ball against Li Na of China during women's single competition of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Sept. 23, 2004. Kuznetsova defeated Li Na 2-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Giant Panda returns from summer resort

A giant panda named Basi eats its favourite food upon its arrival back at the Giant Panda Research Center in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province Sept. 23, 2004. Basi and another giant panda named Xiao Qing had just been moved back from the mountainous areas at the suburb of Fuzhou where they stayed to avoid heat during the hot summer. Born in Sichuan Province, Basi has long been a star as he visited the United States in 1987 and attended the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, which had adopted the giant panda as its mascot.

Paris Auto Expo

Visitors surround a displayed Rolls Royce sedan at the preliminary display of 2004 Paris Auto Expo in Paris Sept.23, 2004. The 16-day 2004 Paris Auto Expo will open to the public from Sept.25.

Dongbei Special Steel Group inaugurated

Zhao Mingyuan, chairman of the Dongbei (Northeast China) Special Steel Group, addresses the inauguration in Dalian, a coastal city of the northeast China's Liaoning Province on Sept. 23, 2004. The Dongbei (Northeast China) Special Steel Group, a reconfiguration of the Special Steel Co., Ltd. of Liaoning Province and Beiman Special Steel Co., Ltd. of Heilongjiang Province, was inaugurated in Dalian Thursday. The annual output of special steel of the Group is expected to reach 3.28 million tons and of rolled special steel to top 2.88 million tons within five years.

Joint Forces Headquarters for the National Capital Region founded in Washiongton

US Army Major General Galen Jackman (C)£¬commander of the Joint Forces Headquarters for the National Capital Region, takes part in the ceremony marking the establishment of the headquarters in Washington DC Sept. 22, 2004. The Joint Forces Headquarters for the National Capital Region, based at Fort McNair, Washington DC, is assigned to protect the Washington area from terrorist attacks.