UN commemorate the 10th anniversary of the International Family Year

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan (L) speaks during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York Dec. 6, 2004. The UN General Assembly held the meeting on Dec. 6 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the International Family Year.

Boy taken hostage for four hours in Thailand

Thai man Wangthong Yoka, 43, holds a knife to the throat of nine-year-old Jiratnond Kerdtum while holding him hostage for four hours nearby Bangkok's Sukhontha Sawat road on December 7, 2004. Police, who said Yoka was intoxicated, shot the man with rubber bullets before his attempted escape. The hostage went unhurt in the incident, which is under investigation. (Reuters)

2nd China (Beijing) Olympic Transportation Forum held in Beijing

Liu Jingmin (Front L), vice mayor of Beijing and executive vice president of BOCOG, shakes hands with Zhou Ganzhi, China's former minister of construction, at the Second China (Beijing) Olympic Transportation Forum, Beijing, Dec. 7. Experts from home and abroad and Chinese officials concerned exchanged views there on Beijing's transport and the urban planning of new Beijing.

Foreigners hear police work report

On December 7, 10-odd foreigners living at Tianfuyuan of Beijing Chaoyang district went to the police office in the community, where they joined 60-odd residents in hearing a work report by policeman Guowanfeng through an interpreter and making comments. Reasons for inviting foreigners to hear work report are to let them have a comprehensive understanding of the public security situation in the community and explain to them the residence permit policy for foreigners implemented by Beijing after November 22. The photo shows foreigners inquiring and commenting relevant matters.

Chinese living in Austria receives honor

Austrian state secretary for chancellery Franz Morak (R) confers Jin Ling, a Chinese living in Austria, with Golden Honor Medal for her contribution to promote cultural exchanges between Austria and China. Lu Yonghua (L), Chinese ambassador to Austria presents the ceremony.

Doctors help prevent epidemic in landslide-hit Nayong

A worker from the epidemic prevention station of Nayong County sprays disinfectant in the settlement of landslide victims in Nayong County in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Dec. 7, 2004. In order to prevent large-scale epidemic in the area, health departments of different levels in Guizhou Province dispatched nearly 100 doctors to the site of the landslide and the settlement of victims.

Schroeder cuts ribbon for new plant of FAW-volkswagen

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (front right) and Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan (front central) attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for inauguration of the No.2 factory of the Faw-volkswagen Co.,Ltd on Dec 7 in Changchun, captial of northeast China's Jilin Province. The factory will produce 330, 000 cars annually, which will make the FAW-volkswagen's annual output 660, 000.

Nobel prize winners to receive awards in Stockholm

2004 Nobel physics prize laureates David J. Gross (Behind C) and Frank Wilczek (Behind 1st R), chemistry prize laureates Aron Ciechanover (Behind 1st L), Avram Hershko (Front 1st R) and Irwin A. Rose (Front C), economics prize laureates Finn E. Kydland (Front 1st L) and Edward C. Prescott (Behind 2nd L) pose for a group photo after a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Dec.7, 2004.

France-Fashion Centenary Exhibition held in Nanjing

Visitors look at a prototype car called "Dream in the Air" made by French Automobiles Citroen Co. in the France-Fashion Centenary Exhibition in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on Dec. 7, 2004. The exhibition of 174 French industry designs since 1900 opened in Nanjing on Tuesday as part of the French Culture Year held in China.

Migratory birds spend winter at the Dongting Lake

The photo taken on Dec. 6 shows migratory birds gather in the national park of East Dongting Lake in south China's Hunan Province. As the temperature in north China goes down, hundreds of thousands of birds fly to the national park of East Dongting Lake in order to seek a warmer place in cold winter. In the middle reaches of Yangtze River, the national park with a total area of 190,000 hectares is one of the 21 important international swamps in China.

"Air Sedan" debuts

A plane called "Air Sedan" taking off in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 7. The AC500 "Air Sedan" co-developed by Nanjing Lightplane Co. Ltd. and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics took its maiden flight successfully in Nanjing on Dec. 7.

Rumsfeld meets Kuwaiti Chief of General Staff

Chief of the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces Fahd El-Amir (R) meets with United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Kuwait City on Dec. 6, 2004. Rumsfeld arrived in Kuwait City on Dec. 6 for a visit to Kuwait.

Karzai inaugurates Afghan president

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (C) takes an oath together with Vice President Ahmad Zia Masoud (L) and Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili during the inauguration in Kabul's Presidential Palace, Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2004.

China to offer aid for Egypt's long-distance teaching project

Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai (L Front) shakes hands with Egyptian Minister of State for International Cooperation Fayza Abul Nagaa after signing an agreement in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Dec. 6, 2004. According to the agreement, China will offer 30 million RMB yuan (3.6 million US dollars) to help Egypt launch the second phase of a long-distance teaching project.

China, US sign agreement on tourism cooperation

He Guangwei (R1), director of the Chinese State Tourism Administration, meets with Grant D. Aldonas (L1), under secretary of international trade administration of the United States Commerce Department, in Washington Dec. 6, 2004.

President Hu meets with Schroeder

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, Dec. 7. President Hu said during their talks that China will work with Germany to further promote a bilateral strategic partnership.

Top legislator meets with Italian President

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 7, 2004.