Turpan works to save ancient underground irrigation system

Workers repaired a karez (an underground irrigation system that was installed 2,000 years ago) in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on June 1, 2005. The project to save and protect karez in Turpan, which plans to repair and reinforce 440 karezes in three years, has passed expert's appraisals and been submitted for approval. The project will hopefully stop the sharp decrease of karez number.

Floods in Hunan kills 22

Mountain torrents, triggered by days of heavy rains, rush down a river in Loudi city, central China's Hunan Province June 1, 2005. Torrents and floods in Hunan have killed 22 people, leaving dozens more missing. The flood control authorities are taking emergency measures to help the flood victims. (newsphoto)

Peking University engages Robert Mundell as honorary professor

Xu Zhihong (R), president of the Peking University presented a certificate for honorary professor to 1999 Nobel Economics laureate Robert Mundell on June 1st, 2005. Robert Mundell delivered a speech in the Peking University on that day.

China's Taiyuan to bid for 2008 Int'l BMX Championship

Pat Mcquaid (1st R), President of Road Commission of UCI (Union Cyclist International) investigates sports arena in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, June 1, 2005. Taiyuan will bid for the 2008 International BMX (bicycle motocross) Championship with Orlando of US, Frankfort of Germany and Glasgow in Scotland.

Italian women's wear show

A model displays an outfit of Italian brand during the Italian Women's Wear Collective Show at the European Style Conference Center of Chaoyang Park in Beijing May 31, 2005. The show is one of the series activities with a theme of ITALY in Chaoyang Park held by Italian Trade Commission Government Agency.

Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (2nd L Front) speaks while his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (2nd R) looks on during a joint press conference after their meeting in Vladivostok, east Russia, June 1, 2005.

Dutch begin to vote on EU constitution

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende casts his vote in the referendum for the European Union constitution in his hometown Capelle aan den IJssel June 1, 2005. The Dutch referendum for the EU constitution kicked off at 7:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) on Wednesday, after the latest survey showed that around 60 percent of Dutch voters would say "no" to EU's first constitutional charter.

Facial makeups of Beijing Opera exhibited in Jilin

A woman passes by facial makeups of Beijing Opera exhibited in Jilin, a city in northeast China's Jilin Province, May 31, 2005. Jilin is holding various kinds of cultural activities for people to better understand Chinese traditional culture.

Hu urges children to work for all-round development

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with a delegate to the Fifth National Congress of the Chinese Young Pioneers during his meeting with delegates in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 1, 2005. A total of 790 delegates attended the congress, opened in the Great Hall of the People on June 1.