Rice kicks off visit to Britain

British Prime Minister Tony Blair met visiting US Secretary of State Rice in London Feb 4th, 2005. Rick kicked off her visit to eight European countries on Feb 3.

Sri Lanka marks independence day

Sri Lankan President Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga addresses the country's 57th anniversary celebrations of independence in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, Feb. 4, 2005. Kumaratunga called upon all Sri Lankans to unite in the effort to rebuild the nation and thanked the international community for massive pledges of support towards rebuilding. This is the first important festival after tsunami in Sri Lanka.

CNOOC, Kerr-McGee Petroleum to exploit oil at South China Sea

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) signed an agreement on exploitation of deep sea oil at the south China Sea with Kerr-McGee China Petroleum, Ltd on Feb 4th, 2005 in Beijing. The agreement covers an area of 9,729 Sq. Kms, with average sea depth between 1, 500 to 3, 000 meters.

Mandela calls for aid to eliminate poverty

Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela waves to the audience in Trafalgar Square in London, capital of Britain, Feb.3, 2005. Mr. Mandela made a speech entitled "make poverty history" here Thursday, appealing for aid to eliminate poverty around the world.

Senior UN official involved in scandal of Iraqi oil-for-food program

Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volker (R), chief investigator of the scandal-plagued UN oil-for-food program for Iraq, answers questions from journalists in a press conference in New York, Feb.3, 2005. An investigative report issued on Thursday said senior UN official Benon Sevan was engaged in "a grave conflict of interest" in the Iraqi oil-for-food program and solicited and got oil allocations for a Swiss company from the government of Saddam Hussein.

Harbin ice engraving exhibition to open in Shanghai

A boy touches a leg of an ice crab at the site of the Harbin ice engraving exhibition in Shanghai, China, Feb. 3, 2005. The exhibition is to be opened on Feb. 6 in Shanghai.

Hu calls for promoting multi-party cooperation & political consultation

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C), who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a meeting with leaders from non-Communist parties, Beijing, Feb. 4, 2005. Hu calls for unremitting efforts to adhere to and further improve the policy of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. Hu added that both CPC and others parties should work to meet the new challenges of the times.

Taiwan's charter flight arrives in Guangzhou

Crew members of Taiwan's TransAsia Airways' first charter plane are greeted at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province February 4, 2005. The landing of the A321 charter plane, after around 100 minutes of non-stop flight from Taipei, marked the first arrival of a civil jet from Taiwan in Guangzhou.