Top legislator meets Pakistani counterpart

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Chaudhry Amir Hussain, speaker of the Pakistani National Assembly in Beijing Oct. 27, 2004.

Guangzhou to hold final of World Model Contest 2004

A Russian model who has entered the final of the World Model Contest 2004 takes photos at Wuzhen, a well-known ancient town in east China's Zhejiang Province. The final of the contest will take place on Dec 12 in Guangzhou. This is the first time China holds the contest.

Iraqi President meets Chinese ambassador

Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar (R) meets with Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Yang Honglin at the office of the president in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Oct. 27, 2004. Yang Honglin presented his credential to Iraqi President officially on Wednesday.

Daqing oil refinery explosion kills two

An explosion and fire at a workshop of a Daqing oil refinery kill two workers October 27, 2004. Five others were reported missing in the explosion. The explosion occurred at about 9:40am on Wednesday at the refinery in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, and the fire was brought under control by about 11:00. The cause is still under investigation.

Arafat's health draws wide attention

Arafat's senior adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina said that Arafat was not in critical condition, but he needs a few days of rest. About 1,000 Palestinians gathered outside of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah midnight, Oct. 27 for his health news. (Xinhua photo)

Traditional Chinese medicine wins high reputation in Indonesia

Xue Ligong (L), a senior surgeon from the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, treats a patient at the newly established Jakarta Branch of the Hwato Traditional Health Center in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia Oct. 27, 2004. Opened in Surabaja last July, the headquarter of Hwato Traditional Health Center has gained high reputation in Indonesia by cooperating closely with the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies.

Anti-war demonstration in Tokyo request withdrawal of troops

Japanese citizens held an anti-war demonstration near the residence of the PM in Tokyo on Oct 27, requesting the government to withdraw the SDF troops from Iraq. The al-Qaeda-linked group of Iraq's most wanted man Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi released a video of a kidnapped Japanese on Oct 26 on the Internet, and threatened to behead the young Japanese unless Tokyo withdraws its troops from the country within 48 hours. Japanese PM Koizumi refusued to withdraw from Iraq Oct 27.

CPPCC Chairman meets Japanese guests

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with Honorary President Gotoda Masaharu of the Japan-China Friendship Center at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 27, 2004.

Turkey seeks support from France, Germany for bid for EU membership

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (1st L Front), German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (C Front) and French President Jacques Chirac (1st R Front) pose ahead of a meeting in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 26, 2004. The European Union summit meeting to be held in December will decide whether to start the talks on Turkey's entry into the EU. Erdogan's visit was aimed at rallying support of Germany and France on the issue.

Death toll of Daping coal mine blast rises to 129

Rescuers are ready to go down the mine again to look for the last 19 missing miners at Daping coal mine, 40 kilometers southwest of Zhengzhou city, capital of central China?¡¥s Henan Province, Oct. 27, 2004. The death toll of last Wednesday's gas blast has risen to 129, according to the latest news.

Switzerland, EU sign agreements to promote trade

Piet Hein Donner (R), justice minister of Holand, which is holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, shakes hands with Swiss President Joseph Deiss after they sign an agreement in Luxembourg Oct. 26, 2004. Switzerland and the EU signed nine agreements including the Schengen Agreement on Tuesday in a bid to promote trade.

Two Chinese citizens killed in Dakar

The body of a killed Chinese is carried out of an apartment in Dakar, capital of Senegal Oct. 26, 2004. Two Chinese citizens, a mother and her son, were found dead on Tuesday night at home in Dakar.

Anti-terror drill held in Shanghai

Armed policemen await command to begin the anti-terror drill in China's Shanghai city Oct. 27. Police and soldiers of Shanghai participated in an anti-terror exercise Wednesday. Under the drill scenario, terrorists had attacked a chemical storehouse and hijacked some hostages. The comprehensive exercise, which is staged to test the emergency services' reactions in a simulated terrorist urban attack, is the first of its kind ever held in Shanghai.