Rice meets Chinese figure skaters

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (3rd left) talks with Chinese figure skaters Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo and short-track skater Yang Yang (A) during her 24-hour visit in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2005. Rice left here for home Monday afternoon.

High-tech employed in protection of grotto statues

Coordinates were sticked to a statue in the Feilaifeng grotto. Nnumerous coorodinates will help technician get an overall grip of statue's detailed features and therefore enables them preserve original appearance of the statues.As representative of southern-style grotto statues, the 345 statues inside the Feilaifeng grotto were carved in Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. The statues are badly damaged due to corrosion and weathering. The concerned departments have recently launched a protection program, which aims to preserve the statues and the surrounding environment through application of information technology.

Traditional Uygur printed calico on the brink of extinction

Hujiaximu, a staff with the Culture Center of the Yengisar County, Kashi Prefecture of Xinjiang, was printing a piece of calico with wooden mold March 21. The once widely used traditional craft for making Uygur printed calico with wooden mold in southern Xinjiang is now at the brink of distinction. Hujiaximu has begun collecting calicos and wooden molds in recent years in an effort to revive the printing techniques. He has got 200 different molds and initially grasped the dying technique now. The Uygur printed calicos often feature flowers, grass, and geometry patterns, and are used to make wall coverings, wall hangings, etc. The calicos possesse rich characteristics of the Uygur nationality. The dye made from minerals and plants makes the color lasting for hundreds of years.

New Toyota Crown makes debut

The 12th generation Toyota Crown sedan car drives off production line in Tianjin March 21. The new Crown sedan car adopts 3.0 L V6 engine and rear wheel drive technology. Its chassis is raised 10mm to suit complex road in China. The car sells from 328, 000 to 480,000 yuan.

Beijing international exhibition of gifts, craftworks, and housewares

Dresses printed with Peking Opera masks were displayed at the Beijing international exhibition of gifts, craftworks, and housewares, which opened March 21 at the World Trade Center in Beijing. Delicate gifts, craftworks and housewares will be on displayed until March 24.

China Cable Broadcasting Network 2005 opens

The picture features Samsung electronics' stand at the China Cable Broadcasting Network 2005, which opened March 21 at the China International Exhibition center in Beijing. More than 1,000 enterprises from home and aboard participate in the exhibition. Digital broadcasting and TV and and network TV have become hot topic at the exhibition. After 12 years' development, the CCBN has become an major annul event in the world that covers TV & broadcasting, IT and electronic products.

Hot air balloon festival in Canberra

Two hot air balloons in shape of bee are ready to fly in Canberra, Australia, March 21, 2005. 50 hot air balloons from around the world attended the annual Canberra hot air balloon festival.

Shijiazhuang steps up inspection on Sudan I

A staff member of the sanitation and epidemic prevention station tests the sample for containing any possible Sudan I in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province March 21, 2005. The city's sanitation sector stepped up inspections on local catering, food processing industries and seasoning wholesale markets. Sudan I, a red dye used for coloring foods that has been linked to cancer, has been found in products of KFC outlets in China recently.

HSBC Beijing branch starts RMB business

PD Yip, chief executive of China Business of HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp.) addresses the RMB Business Inauguration & Customer Account Opening Signing Ceremony at the HSBC Beijing Branch in Beijing March 21, 2005. The HSBC service in Beijing currently covers local enterprises, overseas-funded businesses and overseas people.

Israel, Palestine fail to agree on Tulkarm handover

Palestinian policemen patrol in Tulkarm, Palestine, March 21, 2005. Israel's expected handover of the West Bank city of Tulkarm to Palestinian control on Monday was in doubt due to disagreement between security officials of the two sides over details of the Israeli pullout.

S. Korea, US launch joint military drills

Soldiers of South Korean marine corps attend a landing drill near Pohang, southeastern South Korea, March 21, 2005. The drill is a part of Foal Eagle, the annual theater-wide South Korea-US joint field training. Foal Eagle, together with a combined command post exercise called RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration), will last from March 19 to 25 this year.

HKIA named as best airport worldwide

A foreign tourist (2nd L) talked with a serving clerk (1st L) at the Hong Kong International Airport (file photo). Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been named best airport worldwide by travelers, according to the results of an authoritative year-round survey, which is jointly run by the International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International.

Presidents of China, Democratic Republic of Congo hold talks

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Josef Kabila, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Beijing March 21, 2005.