Ice sculpture festival

Participants pour snow during the opening of the 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 20, 2004. The festival, with its main theme of "shining snow," has eight scene areas, including a national and international snow sculpture competition, an entertainment area and a skating area. Tourists can also enjoy other traditional activities. The lowest temperature was 24 C below zero Monday in Harbin. (newsphoto)

Ukraine's two rivals debate on TV

During the 100-minute debate broadcast by Ukraine's UT-1 national channel, the two rivals, Moscow-backed Yanukovych and West-backed Yushchenko traded accusations each other while making promises to voters in case of being elected the country's president.(Xinhua Photo)

62 Iraqis killed in Karbala-Najaf bombings

Thirty people were killed and 65 wounded in a car bomb blast near the Imam Ali shrine in the Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf on Sunday.(Xinhua)

Gold roosters on sale in Guangzhou

A resident views the gold jewellery in front of a shop window in Guangzhou, capital of south China¡¯s Guangdong Province Dec. 20, 2004. Gold roosters were on sale as the Year of the Rooster comes in 2005 according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Chemical factory exploded in Henan

A chemical factory exploded in Kaifeng, Central China's Henan Province Monday afternoon. The cause and casualties of the blast are still unknown. (newsphoto)

17th World Model Contest for region of China concludes

Liu Jing, winner of the final of the 17th World Model Contest for the region of China waved to spectators in Beihai, Guangxi Autonomous Region on Dec 19. Liu Jing from Jiangxi Province won the championship; Zhang Fang from Henan Province won runner-up and Liu WenJing from Shandong the third place. The champion Liu Jing will represent China to take part in the final in September 2005.

Sweetshop in shape of Santa Claus

A citizen buys sweets at a sweetshop built in the shape of a Santa Claus in a street close to the central railway station in Hamburg of Germany, Dec. 20, 2004. Along with Christmas midseason, many merchants decorate their shops with the Christmas theme to attract more customers.

Blooming sunflowers attract tourists

A girl dances in a sunflower field in Shanglin County in Nanning, capital of southwest China¡¯s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Dec. 18, 2004. The blooming sunflowers attracted lots of visitors.

Hu Jintao ends Macao tour

Chinese President Hu Jintao waves as he leaves the Macao Special Administrative Region on Dec. 20, 2004. Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his tour to the Macao Special Administrative Region Monday afternoon.

District in Shanghai steps up information services for foreigners

Two Chinese cadres play with a foreign child as they convey greetings to a foreign family in Changning district in the east metropolis of Shanghai, Dec. 20, 2004. A program with the theme of "Changning is Your Home" is carried out here before the coming the Christmas, aiming at providing information services for the 14,000 foreign residents in this district.

Cambodia to buy more locomotives from China

A Cambodian train driver poses for a photo with a locomotive made in China at the Cambodia's Railway Station in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia Dec. 20, 2004. Two new locomotives from China were put into operation Monday in Cambodian railway. Cambodian Minister of Council of Ministers Sok An said that the Cambodian government plans to buy eight more locomotives and 300 train wagons from China in years.

Press conference introducing Airbus' A350 held in Beijing

Airbus Senior Vice President and Airbus China President Laurence Barron speaks at a press conference introducing Airbus' new A350 in Beijing, capital of China Dec. 20, 2004. A350 is to be offered in two versions, the A350-800, which would carry 245 passengers and have a range of 15,900 kilometers, and the A350-900, which would seat 285 people and have a range of 13,900 kilometers.

China to make donation for training Iraqi electricians

Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Yang Honglin (L) shakes hands with Iraqi Minister of Electricity Ayham Al-Samaray (R) upon the signing of an exchange of letters in Baghdad, capital of Iraq Dec. 19, 2004. According to the exchange of letters, Chinese Government agreed to donate 3 million yuan (some US$360,000) in training 20 Iraqi electricians in China during a 60-day program.