¡¡December 20

After Hong Kong returned to the motherland, the Chinese government will resume sovereignty over Macao effective December 20, 1999. To welcome this national grand occasion, a countdown board was set up in front of the Museum of the Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The board's unveiling ceremony on May 5, 1998.

Thanks to the adoption of the policy of reform and opening to the outside world, the Chinese economy has increased in a sustained way, people's livelihood has improved remarkably, and both buying and selling are brisk. This shopping center in Beijing attracts an endless stream of customers.

April 30

The 22nd International Horticultural Exposition opened in Kunming on April 30, 1999. Through colorful and varied gardens and horticulture, this exposition displays to the world a beautiful painting scroll of the harmonious relations between ``human beings and the nature.'' This exposition will further promote the mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among the peoples of all the countries and write a new chapter of ``human beings respecting nature, and protecting ecology.''This is a scene from the opening ceremony. Afterwards, a large song-and-dance performance ``The Romantic Music of Heaven and Earth'' offered the audiences art enjoyment with magic laser stage effects and beautiful ethnic minority dances.

May 15

On May 15, 1999 Ho Hua-wah was elected as the first chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). He is the first candidate for the chief executive of the MSAR elected by the Macao people themselves. On May 20 Premier Zhu Rongji signed No.264 Decree of the State Council, for his appointment. On May 24 President Jiang Zemin meets Ho Hua-wah.

¡¡May 8

On May 8, 1999, the US-led NATO outrageously attacked the Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with missiles, causing injuries and deaths and seriously damaging the embassy. This evil act in violation the international laws and the norms for international relations incurred the great wrath of the Chinese people. On the morning of the very day the Chinese government published a solemn statement, sternly denouncing the barbarous acts of NATO, saying it must bear full responsibility. China also decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should arrange an urgent meeting with the ambassador of the United States in China to raise the strongest protest; and required the UN Security Council hold an urgent meeting to discuss and denounce the barbarous act of the NATO headed by the United States. China took all measures to rescue injured people, and sent a special plane to Belgrade to transport the personnel concerned back to China. In a statement, the Chinese government expressed solemnly its stand that China reserves the right to take further measures. On June 16 Thomas R. Pickering, US Undersecretary of State and a personnel envoy of President Clinton, came to Beijing to report to the Chinese government the results of an investigation made by his government on the event. The Chinese government pointed out that, on May 8, the US-led NATO attacked the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, causing heavy injuries and deaths of the Chinese personnel and serious damage to the embassy. This act trampled on the United Nations Charter and the basic norms for international relations and is an encroachment of the sovereignty of China. After the event, the Chinese government on behalf of the people all over the country raised the strongest protest, and required that NATO must bear all responsibility for this act, make public and formal apologies to the Chinese government, the Chinese people and the family members of the victims, make an all-round and thorough investigation of the event and make public the detailed results of the investigation, and seriously punish those responsible. It was noted that the governments and the leaders of the United States and some countries of NATO had made apologies to the Chinese government and people for this event, and that the United States had investigated the bombing. But, the explanations made by the United States on the cause of this event are unconvincing. Therefore the Chinese government and people cannot accept the conclusion of ``bombing by mistake.''

The national flag of the People's Republic of China still flies high above Belgrade.

The southern side of the destroyed embassy.