ASEAN foreign ministers meeting to open in the Philippines

Foreign ministers of the 10 member states of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet the reporters before the one-day close-door meeting in the central Philippine city of Cebu, April 11, 2005. The foreign ministers gathered here Monday to discuss the modalities for the East Asian Summit (EAS) and the Charter of the ASEAN.

Shenyang Imperial Palace sees 380th birthday

The Shenyang Imperial palace, former residence of Nuerhachi, the founder of the Qing dynasty and his successor Huangtiaji, sees its 380th birthday on April 11. 380 years ago, Nuerhachi set Shenyang as capital and built the imperial palace there. Shenyang imperial palace is situated in the center of old Shenyang city, and is known for its distinctive Manchurian features. It is another well-preserved palace compound for emperors in China.

Miss USA crowned in Baltimore

Chelsea Cooley of Charlotte, North Carolina, reacts to winning the title of Miss USA 2005 as she is crowned by Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey (back) in Baltimore, Maryland April 11, 2005. (Reuters)

Stone statues in Zimbabwe

This photo taken on April 4, 2005 shows a huge stone statue of Zimbabwean Bird erected on the entrance to Tengenenge Village in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe.

President Hu on inspection tour in Shandong Province

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C), also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) and chairman of Military Committee of the CPC Central Committee, talks with villagers of Dongjiang Township in Longkou, a coastal city of east China's Shandong Province, during his inspection tour here between April 8 and 10, 2005.

9th China International Machine Tool Show opens in Beijing

Visitors consult the employee of a machine tool enterprise at the 9th China International Machine Tool Show, which opened in the International Exhibition Center of Beijing, April 11, 2005. Some 1,000 enterprises from 26 countries and regions have participated in the 7-day show.

Folk art festival held in Guiyang

Some women of ethnic minorities present batik garment at a folk art festival in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province April 11, 2005.

"Stone shoe"

The photo taken on April 7, 2005 shows a natural stone bearing a strong resemblance to a high-heel shoe in Huangguoshu, a famous tourist site, in southwest China's Guizhou Province. The 98-centimeter-long stone "shoe" weighs about 25 kilograms and has a history of over 200 million years, according to local sources.

Clean of Tiananmen Square kicks off

A sanitary worker cleans dirt such as chewing gum waste on Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, capital of China, on April 11, 2005 to welcome the forthcoming May Day holidays.

12 killed in Bangladesh factory collapse

Rescue workers try to retrieve the trapped workers at the debris of a collapsed factory building some 25 km west of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, April 11, 2005. The nine-storey building collapsed following a boiler explosion that morning and several hundred of workers were trapped within the debris of the building. At least 12 bodies have been dug out already and more than 60 wounded sent to hospital.

Leipzig international auto show

A new Mercedes-Benz concept car is displayed on the Leipzig international auto show held in eastern Germany city Leipzig, April 9, 2005. The nine-day auto show closed on April 10. Some 450 automakers from 23 countries joined the fair which attracted some 300,000 visitors.

Premier Wen meets with Indian President, PM

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) poses for photo with Indian President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam in New Delhi, India, April 11, 2005.