Chinese president visits Argentina

Chinese President Hu Jintao speaks at the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires, November 17, 2004. During which, Hu said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries. (Reuters photo)

Map billboards in Beijing

Two pedestrians walk past a travel map billboard newly erected in Beijing Zoo on Nov. 17, 2004. With the approach of 2008 Olympic Games, such Chinese-English map billboards are more visible in Beijing.

China Netcom shares jump 14% in trading debut

The picture dated Nov 17 shows a huge advertisement of the China Netcom Group, China's second-biggest fixed-line phone company. Shares of China Netcom Group have jumped 14.12 percent in their New York trading debut on Nov 16. The company's American depositary shares rose to 24.90 US dollars on the New York Stock Exchange composite trading from an initial public offer price of 21.82 US dollars.

Gold prices rises in Hangzhou again

A salesgirl arranges gold ornaments in a jewellery shop in Hangzhou, capital of east China¡¯s Zhejiang Province Nov. 17, 2004. The price of gold went up once again with 4 to 5 RMB yuan increase per gram in the Hangzhou city on Wednesday.

47 parties boycott elections in Iraq

Yousif Hamdan, chairman of Party of People's Unification, addresses a news conference in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on Nov. 17, 2004. Forty-seven Iraqi political and religious parties have decided to boycott the general elections due in January in protest against the extended use of force throughout the country, a joint statement said on Wednesday.

Shanghai Art Exposition

A foreign visitor takes a picture of an artwork during the preview of the 2004 Shanghai Art Exposition in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 16, 2004. The art expo, opened on Nov. 17, attracts more than 10,000 art works from 11 countries and regions.

China's World Cup dream dashed

China's Li Jinyu (L) vies for the ball with Hong Kong of China's captain during the 2006 World Cup qualifying match in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 17, 2004. China was out of the final round of qualifiers despite 7-0 win over HK.

Top legislator makes inspection tour in Fujian

An undated picture shows Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People¡¯s Congress, talks with children during a visit to a residential area in Xiamen, a coastal city in south China¡¯s Fujian Province. Wu made an investigation tour in Fujian Province from Nov. 12 to Nov. 17, 2004.

Students visit Chinese Embassy to Japan

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi (1st L) chats with Chinese students from Yamate Chinese School of Yokohama in the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Nov. 17, 2004. Some 190 Chinese students studying there were invited to visit the embassy on Wednesday. They shared the happy moments of knowing more about China by watching movies, tasting Chinese food and talking to embassy staff members.

Chinese Vice Premier meets Irish leaders

Irish President Mary McAleese (L) meets with visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Huang Ju in Dublin Nov. 16, 2004.

Chinese Premier meets PM of Antigua and Barbuda

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and visiting Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer review the guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2004.