Airbus to sell 23 A320 airplanes to China

On Dec 6th, Gustav Humbert, chief operating officer of Airbus announces at a press conference in Beijing that Airbus has signed a a general terms agreement with the China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation, according to which the Airbus will sell 23 A320 airplanes to China. Airbus will have technical cooperation with China.

Deserts to the west of Helan Mountains formed 15, 000 years ago

The file photo taken in Sept. 2003 shows tourists ride on camels in Tengger Shamo (Desert) on the west side of Helan Mountain in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Experts discovered recently that deserts of Badain Jaran, Tengger and Ulan Buh, which are all on the west side of Helan Mountain, were formed about 15,000 years ago.

Festival atmosphere pervades Stokholm

Two Swedish men in Santa Claus costume sing to the guitar and accordion accompaniment by themselves at a square of Stockholm, capital of Sweden, on Dec. 5, 2004. As Christmas approaches, a festival atmosphere is pervading the capital city.

Best Dog Contest

The appreciator (R) judges a dog in the Best Dog Contest during a pet show in Helsinki, capital of Finland, Dec. 5, 2004. More than 10,000 pets including dogs, cats, rabbits and parrots were displayed in the two-day show, closed on Dec. 5.

World Family Summit opens in Sanya

Deisi Noeli Weber Kusztra, president of the World Family Organization, applauds during the opening ceremony of the World Family Summit in Sanya, a city in south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 6, 2004. More than 300 representatives from the 48 members of the organization and international agencies attended the three-day conference. It would discuss the relationship between family and sustained development, education, gender equality, reproductive and maternal health, HIV/AIDS prevention, environment, information and communication technology.

Graduation celebration of Iraqi college students

A Iraqi girl student of Mustansyria University walks with applause of schoolmates and teachers on the graduation celebration ceremony in Baghdad on 6th December 2004. Most Iraqi college students choose to complete their study although the whole country suffers from turbulence for more than one year after the war.

2004 Autumn Auction to open in Beijing

A statue of Sakyamuni of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and a painting by Li Keran (R) are displayed at the preview of 2004 Autumn Auction in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2004. Nearly 2,000 works of arts will be auctioned by New Century Corp. held on Dec. 8 to 9.

Security tightened for the presidential inauguration of Karzai

A German soldier guards in front of a giant portrait of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2004. The presidential inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai will be held here on Dec. 7. Some 50 foreign delegations will attend the ceremony, US Vice President Dick Cheney is among them. The security has been tightened in Kabul to prevent possible terrorist attack.

The death toll for Guizhou landslide rises to 34

Rescuers work in the site of landslide in Nayong County in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Dec. 6, 2004. The death toll from last Friday's landslide rose to 34 by press time Monday. Ten people are still missing.

Schroeder lays foundation stone for factory of new Benz plant in Beijing

Visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (L2), Liu Qi (L1), the secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan (L3) attend the foundation ceremony of the new joint-venture factory of Sino-German Benz-Daimler chrysler automobile manufacturer in the Economic Development Zone of Beijing in China's capital on Dec. 6, 2004.

Afghan Vice President meets special envoy of China

Afghan Vice President Karim Khalili (L) meets with Li Hui, Chinese assistant foreign minister and special envoy of the Chinese government, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2004. Li was here for attending the inauguration of Afghanistan's first elected president Hamid Karzai on Dec. 7, 2004.

Central govt supports HK's long-term development: CPPCC chairman

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with a consultant of a delegation of overseas Chinese societies from Hong Kong in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 6, 2004. The one in the middle is Dr. Robin Chan Yao-hing, the leader of the delegation.

Chinese, Italian presidents hold talks

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) accompanies Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in inspecting a guard of honor in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2004. Ciampi arrived in Beijing on Dec. 4 for a six-day state visit to China.

Premier Wen meets with German Chancellor Schroeder

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Dec. 6, 2004. Schroeder arrived here Monday for a three-day working visit.