Let's take a look at some of the major events that have taken place in China and around the world during the past week.

China and Japan sign a joint statement during President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan on the all-round promotion of bilateral ties.

The Olympic torch lights up the world's highest peak.

International aid supplies begin arriving in Myanmar following the devastating cyclone.

And Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev is sworn in.

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Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda reached broad consensus during their talks in Tokyo on Wednesday. The two sides also signed a joint statement on the all-round promotion of their strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

On Thursday, President Hu Jintao delivered a speech at Waseda University, stressing that China and Japan should look to the future.

"History is the most philosophical textbook. Instead of extending hatred, the two nations may take history as a mirror to look forward to the future, and cherish and maintain peace, so that the Chinese and Japanese peoples can maintain warm ties generation after generation."

Hu Jintao arrived in Tokyo Tuesday for a five-day state visit. It's the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Japan in 10 years.

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A 19-member Chinese mountaineering team made up of Han Chinese, Tibetans and university students successfully scaled Mt. Qomolongma on Thursday morning, carrying the Olympic torch to the world's highest peak.

A thirty-meter torch relay was held at the top of the mountain, for the first time in history and the event was televised live.

Li Zhixing was in charge of the Qomolangma leg of the torch relay.

"This time we felt more responsibility. Years of wishes and dreams have come true during the ascent. In the meantime, we have also fulfilled our promise to the world. We made it."

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In another landmark event, the China Philharmonic Orchestra performed for Pope Benedict the 16th at the Vatican on Wednesday evening.

Conductor Yu Long said he was honored to perform for the pope, adding that music can break down barriers between peoples and cultures.

"Music is beyond any religion, culture, language and I would say music is the language of the God. We could use this language to understand each other''.

The Pope called the performance a "truly unique event" and offered a "thank you" in Chinese at the end of the hour-long concert.

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Relief supplies from the United Nations began arriving in Myanmar on Thursday in the wake of cyclone Nargis that has killed more than 22 thousand people and left one million homeless in the southeast Asian country.

China pledged 4.3 million US dollars in aid in addition to an initial million.

Despite logistical problems of getting the aid to Myanmar, the World Food Program's regional director for Asia, Tony Banbury, said his staff would ensure that help reaches the people in need.

"They will organize distribution, they will identify the victims of greatest need, they will make sure that health supplies, the water, the food, the shelter supplies get to the people who need it."

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Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in on Wednesday, succeeding Vladimir Putin two months after he swept the country's presidential elections.

In his inaugural address at the Kremlin, Medvedev said his most important task would be "the development of civil and economic freedom."

"I have just taken the presidential oath. It is given to the people of Russia, and among the very first lines is the command to respect and guard the rights and freedoms of man."

On Thursday, Medvedev signed a decree to appoint former President Putin as prime minister, hours after the State Duma, approved Putin's nomination.