Dec

1-3 Russian President Vladimir Putin visits China. During his visit, Putin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin sign a joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. The two leaders also visit Peking University, where President Putin makes an address.

3 Shanghai wins the World Expo 2010 bid with 54 votes in the fourth round of voting at the 132nd General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

9 The Information Office of the State Council issues China's National Defense in 2002 White Paper, which gives an overall introduction to the country's national defense policy and its progress in related fields over the past two years.

23 The 31st Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress begins to deliberate the country's first Civil Code draft. The nine-part and 1,209-article draft law includes general rules and separate laws on property, contracts, personal rights, marriage, adoption, inheritance, legal consequences for civil rights violations and civil relations involving foreign parties.

23-24 China and Russia hold an anti-terrorist consultation in Beijing. The two sides agree to join efforts in concrete measures to suppress East Turkistan and Chechen terrorist forces and reiterate the needs of immediate and resolute acts to crack down upon drug smuggling.

27 Ceremonies marking the start of the south-to-north water diversion project are held in Beijing, Shandong and Jiangsu, simultaneously. Premier Zhu Rongji announces the start of the gigantic project. Upon its completion, the 486-billion-yuan project will add 13.4 billion cubic meters to the water supply capacity of north China. Construction is expected to take 50 years in three stages.

30 China's fourth unmanned spacecraft, Shenzhou 4, is launched at Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in northwest Gansu Province and enters its preset orbit. Two mannequins, or "analogue humans," ride on the spaceship. This is the fourth test flight of the country's space program before manned space flight.