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| China and Ireland talk up trade on visit by Xi Jinping | China and Ireland talk up trade on visit by Xi Jinping |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The man tipped to become China's future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade. | The man tipped to become China's future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade. |
| On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials. | On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials. |
| New pacts to promote trade, investment and education are being signed. | New pacts to promote trade, investment and education are being signed. |
| While China dwarfs the Republic, both are big exporters and Ireland is keen to promote its tourist industry. | |
| Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey. | Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey. |
| Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China's human rights record during talks with the vice-president. | Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China's human rights record during talks with the vice-president. |
| Farm visit | Farm visit |
| Flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle. | Flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle. |
| On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher. | On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher. |
| He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration of Gaelic games in Croke Park - where he swung a hurling stick for the cameras - and a special performance by Riverdance. | He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration of Gaelic games in Croke Park - where he swung a hurling stick for the cameras - and a special performance by Riverdance. |
| He was due to hold talks with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, and political leaders. | He was due to hold talks with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, and political leaders. |
| Mr Xi's schedule takes him to some of the most scenic parts of the Republic and showcases Irish music, culture and sport, an opportunity to introduce Ireland as a tourism destination to a huge number of potential Chinese visitors, the BBC's Ruth McDonald reports from Dublin. | Mr Xi's schedule takes him to some of the most scenic parts of the Republic and showcases Irish music, culture and sport, an opportunity to introduce Ireland as a tourism destination to a huge number of potential Chinese visitors, the BBC's Ruth McDonald reports from Dublin. |
| In Sixmilebridge, the Chinese vice-president had a newborn calf named in his honour at the farm of James Lynch. | In Sixmilebridge, the Chinese vice-president had a newborn calf named in his honour at the farm of James Lynch. |
| "I know more about my calves than my children, there's so much traceability," Mr Lynch told him. | "I know more about my calves than my children, there's so much traceability," Mr Lynch told him. |
| "Your excellency, we will be calling this calf after yourself." | "Your excellency, we will be calling this calf after yourself." |
| Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the visit would leave a lasting and positive impression of the natural source of Irish farm products. | Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the visit would leave a lasting and positive impression of the natural source of Irish farm products. |
| Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes. | Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes. |
| 'Exemplary' relations | 'Exemplary' relations |
| Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development's chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses. | Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development's chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses. |
| "China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world's population," he said. | "China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world's population," he said. |
| "The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country." | "The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country." |
| Mr Xi's visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media. | Mr Xi's visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media. |
| China's Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries' ties as "an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems". | China's Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries' ties as "an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems". |
| Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people's "enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world". | Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people's "enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world". |
| But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China. | But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China. |
| "Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day," she said. | "Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day," she said. |