China's last batch of steam locomotives

A steam locomotive, which is one of China's last batch of out-of-date locomotives, is passing a bridge in Inner Mongolia December 7. The batch of out-of-date locomotives will be out of service by the end of this year. The Jining-Tongliao railway in Inner Mongolia is the only railway in the world using steam locomotives. Since the railway was built in 1995, more than 100 steam locomotives have run along the railroad.

Hu Jintao meets Russian first Deputy PM

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Dmitri Medvedev, Russian first deputy prime minister and president of the Organizing Committee of the Russia Year in China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Dec. 8, 2005.

Sony launches new digital music players in China

A model presents Sony's new digital music player NW-A600 Dec 8 in Beijing. Sony launched its latest NW-A3000, NW-A1000 and NW-A600 in China that day.

Shanghai East Sea Bridge to open to traffic

China's first sea-spanning bridge-Shanghai East Sea Bridge is set to open to traffic on Dec 10. The two-way six-lane bridge is 32.5 km long and has a designed speed of 80 kph.

China, Czech Republic sign joint declaration

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek sign a joint declaration in Prague, capital of Czech Republic, Dec. 8, 2005.

Malaysian Police intensify security for upcoming East Asia Summit

Malaysian Police guards in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, Dec. 8, 2005. Officials from ASEAN's (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) 10 member countries and those from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea will attend the first East Asia Summit (EAS) and the 11th ASEAN Summit from Dec. 12 to 14 in Kuala Lumpur. To make sure the summits could be held in a peaceful condition, Malaysian Police has intensified their security forces in Kuala Lumpur.

Tibet marks Panchen Lama's enthronment anniversary

The 11th Panchen Lama delivers a speech during the grand ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of his enthronement at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the Panchen Lama's residence, in Xigaze, 270 kilometers from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 8, 2005. More than 1,300 Tibetan Buddhists flocked in the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery Thursday for the grand celebration ceremony that went on for three hours. Gyaincain Norbu, born on February 13, 1990 in Lhari county of Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet, was approved by Chinese central government in November 1995 as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989, after a lot drawing ceremony among three candidates in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. He was enthroned as the 11th Panchen Lama on Dec. 8, 1995.