Chinese premier to attend state dinner
Chinese premier Zhu Rongji will attend a state dinner in Dublin Castle tonight as part of his four-day official visit to Ireland.
Mr Zhu is accompanied by his wife Lao An and a 100-strong Chinese delegation for the trip which is expected to be used to strengthen trade between the two nations.
Mr Ahern became the first Irish leader to visit China in 1998 and Mr Zhu is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ireland.
Ireland imported £346m of Chinese goods in the first six months of this year, up by 45% from the same period last year, according to figures recently released by the Central Statistics Office, making China the sixth biggest non-EU importer into Ireland.
Exports to China during the same period stood at £92m - up 50% from the first six months of 2000.
During his stay, part of a two-week trip to Europe, Mr Zhu will stay at Farmleigh, a Government-owned stately home that once belonged to the Guinness brewing family and was recently bought and renovated at a cost of £41m.
Razor wire has been fitted to perimeter walls and closed-circuit TV cameras and lights have been installed at strategic points around the 78-acre estate because of the fear of protests by human rights campaigners.
Mr Zhu was being entertained last night by dancers from the hit show Riverdance and will embark on a day-long visit to Co Kerry tomorrow.
