Links with China strengthened

Chinese deputy premier Zeng Peiyan is to meet President Mary McAleese this morning as part of a three-day visit to Ireland to strengthen education and agriculture links between the two countries.

Mr Zeng, who arrived in the country on Sunday and leaves tonight, met Tánaiste Michael McDowell at Government Buildings yesterday.

A group of Falun Gong practitioners protested outside the meeting against what they say is the brutal persecution of their members by the Chinese government.

Only limited details of Mr Zeng's itinerary had been released by the Department of Foreign Affairs in an attempt to prevent protests.

Mr Zeng yesterday signed a number of co-operative agreements in the areas of agriculture and education.Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin welcomed three education agreements signed by the deputy premier to facilitate student, graduate and academic mobility between both countries.She said education agreements were "an extremely important gateway to deepening our long-term economic, social and cultural ties".

Aid agency Goal has called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to raise the issue of China's policy on Darfur with Mr Zeng.

"Mr Ahern should impress on Mr Zeng that the Irish people are appalled at the fact that China is using its Security Council veto to block the deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur," Goal director John O'Shea said.

"There has been a singular absence of moral courage on the part of the international community in relation to Darfur. Here, Ireland is now given the opportunity to take a moral stand. We should show the world that we have the courage to do so."

Mr Zeng will today officially launch the Confucius Institute for Ireland at UCD. It aims to foster stronger economic, cultural and educational links between Ireland and China.