Chinese PM to sign tourism agreement with Ireland

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is in Ireland today to meet the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and to sign a new tourism agreement with the Government.

The admission status agreement will make Ireland an approved destination for Chinese tourists, who are expected to make up the largest outbound tourist market in the world by 2020.

Speaking in Beijing, where he is attending the ongoing China-Ireland cultural festival, Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue said the agreement was part of Ireland’s efforts to improve relations with China.