Xi heads for Ireland after concluding trip to the US
Source: Xinhua |
February 19, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Vice President Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Ireland, the only European stop on his three-nation trip after visiting the United States.
Xi has set his sights on Ireland's rolling countryside where he will watch Gaelic football, have a private showing of the Irish Riverdance show and visit the picturesque Cliffs of Moher.
The vice president's fascination with all things Irish dates back to his first trip to Dublin in 2003 when he was a provincial Party secretary.
His love of Ireland has been cultivated by his friendship with Ireland's ambassador to China and a passion for sport.
"He very correctly noticed the similarities between Gaelic football (the national game) and Australian rules football when the rules were explained by our former president on a recent visit," Irish ambassador to China Declan Kelleher said.
Dublin's government is hoping to make the most out of Xi's visit to promote exports to China of anything from IT services to dairy products during the three-day visit.
Although China accounts for just 2.5 percent of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9 percent of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area and Xi will attend an investment forum with some 300 companies in Dublin tomorrow.
On Friday, Xi wrapped up his four-day US visit in southern California style - in a box seat at a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns.
The day ended at Staples Center, across the street from his hotel. He watched the entire third quarter and part of the fourth alongside Governor Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as the Lakers beat the Suns 111-99.
During the game, Villaraigosa presented Xi with a Lakers jersey that had his name on the back. Former Lakers star Magic Johnson came up to the suite to meet him, as did Los Angeles Galaxy soccer player David Beckham.
Before leaving Los Angeles, Xi was at the opening session of the China-US Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.
Xi has set his sights on Ireland's rolling countryside where he will watch Gaelic football, have a private showing of the Irish Riverdance show and visit the picturesque Cliffs of Moher.
The vice president's fascination with all things Irish dates back to his first trip to Dublin in 2003 when he was a provincial Party secretary.
His love of Ireland has been cultivated by his friendship with Ireland's ambassador to China and a passion for sport.
"He very correctly noticed the similarities between Gaelic football (the national game) and Australian rules football when the rules were explained by our former president on a recent visit," Irish ambassador to China Declan Kelleher said.
Dublin's government is hoping to make the most out of Xi's visit to promote exports to China of anything from IT services to dairy products during the three-day visit.
Although China accounts for just 2.5 percent of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9 percent of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area and Xi will attend an investment forum with some 300 companies in Dublin tomorrow.
On Friday, Xi wrapped up his four-day US visit in southern California style - in a box seat at a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns.
The day ended at Staples Center, across the street from his hotel. He watched the entire third quarter and part of the fourth alongside Governor Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as the Lakers beat the Suns 111-99.
During the game, Villaraigosa presented Xi with a Lakers jersey that had his name on the back. Former Lakers star Magic Johnson came up to the suite to meet him, as did Los Angeles Galaxy soccer player David Beckham.
Before leaving Los Angeles, Xi was at the opening session of the China-US Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.
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