Beijing group proposes twinning with Dublin

The twinning of Dublin with the Chinese capital, Beijing, is to be considered by Dublin Corporation. It follows a suggestion by members of a Chinese delegation in Dublin last week.

The 15-member trade delegation, led by the Deputy Mayor of Beijing, Ms Lin Wenyi, took the initiative at a reception in Dublin City Hall last Thursday, March 22nd. It also invited the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Maurice Ahern, who attended, to visit Beijing. He is expected to do so in May.

The Chinese suggestion was "not quite expected", said a Dublin Corporation spokesman yesterday but the delegation was informed that the corporation would be "delighted to consider it".

Mr Sean Love, director of Amnesty International Ireland, has expressed concern about the proposal.

While not opposed to it, he said he would like to know if Dublin Corporation would have a human rights agenda in its negotiations on the twinning. "China's human rights record is appalling, and it has got worse, not better." He also said that Ireland "is supposed to have an ethical foreign policy".

Dublin is already twinned with San Jose in California, Liverpool and Barcelona. China's interest in things Irish has become intense in recent years, with delegations visiting this State at the rate of one a month. Most have been sponsored by Enterprise Ireland.

Interest in Ireland was sparked by the Taoiseach's visit to China in 1998, which received a high profile, say sources in Beijing. It was followed in April 1999 by the visit of China's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Li Lanqing, to Ireland.

He is understood to have been impressed with the economy, particularly the software area, and his observations sparked great interest when he returned home.

This has been reciprocated in Ireland. Recognising the vast potential of the eastern market, the Taoiseach put in place the "Asia Strategy" in January 1999. Enterprise Ireland subsequently opened offices in Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Singapore, and Beijing. Last year an Irish consulate was opened in Shanghai.

Next month the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, is due to visit. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, is expected there later in the month.