Chinese navy fleet ends India visit

Indian Rear Admiral Rajender Singh, Chief of Staff of Southern Naval Command, waves his hand to Chinese naval fleet for a farewell at the Cochin port on Decem.1. The Chinese naval fleet sailed for Thailand after a three-day good-will visit to India.

First snow falls in Shenyang

Some college students enjoy themselves in a snowfield in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on December 1, 2005. A heavy snow, the first in this winter, hit Shenyang on Wednesday, leaving a local airport and some expressways in the province closed up. By Thursday morning, all had resumed normal.

Kazakhstan Astana election

An elderly woman walks past the posters of president candidates in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, Dec. 1, 2005.Five candidates including the incumbent president Nazarbaev would compete in the presidential polls which will be held on December 4, 2005.

S. Korean farmers protest opening of rice market

Police spray water against protesting farmers to block them from marching on the street in Kwanghwamun, central Seoul, Dec 1, 2005. About 3, 500 farmers participated in the demonstration to call for the annulment of the ratification of a rice market opening deal, according to which S. Korea is to increase rice import from 205,200 tons to 408,700 tons in ten years.

Brazil, Argentina call for closer economic integration

Argentine President Nestor Kirchner (L) and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hug each other as they meet in Argentina's Puerto Iguazu on Nov. 30, 2005. Lula and Kirchner signed an array of agreements Wednesday in Puerto Iguazu to push for closer regional economic integration,after they met to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Argentine-Brazilian bilateral agreements on economic integration which laid the foundation for the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

Britain marks World's AIDS Day

Children from Britain and South Africa shout anti-AIDS slogans during a rally to mark the World AIDS Day on Trafalgar Square in London, capital of Britain, Dec. 1, 2005. Children from Britain and South Africa on Dec. 1 showed their support to the HIV/AIDS positive children by activities such as taking the fingerprints and singing.

Al Montashari is Asia's 'best'

Saudi Arabia defender Hamad Al Montashari holds his award for Asian player of the year to meet the press after the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) Awards Gala 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 30, 2005. The AFC has been holding the awards each year since 1994 as an incentive to Asian footballers and their teams to strive for better performance in their matches.

International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo

A woman shows a robot with horse head during the 2005 International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Dec. 1, 2005. As the world's largest robotics trade show, the 2005 International Robot Exhibition which was opened on Nov. 30, 2005 brought together about 200 robot manufacturers and related firms.

Chinese Premier receives interview of Le Figaro

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Le Figaro's deputy editor-in-chief Pierre Rousselin in an interview held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Dec. 1, 2005.

Premier Wen meets with Lesotho PM

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and visiting Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili review the honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on December 1, 2005.

Central conference on economic work held

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses at the annual central conference on economic work held in Beijing from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2005. The conference, held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, produced guidance, overall requirements and major tasks for China's economic work in 2006.

Blast hits chemical plant in Jiangsu

Fireworkers attempt to extinguish a fire after a blast hit a tank containing eight tons of virulent acrylonitrile in a chemical plant in Jiangdu, East China's Jiangsu Province December 1, 2005. No death or injuries were reported. The cause and effect of the explosion are still unknown.