By any assessment, the visit of Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping to Ireland represents a remarkable coup for this country.

The future leader of the world’s most populous nation is due to get the royal treatment when he arrives on a three-day visit to Ireland today.

China’s vice-president Xi Jinping should be “forcefully” questioned by ministers on his country’s attitude to human rights, during a three-day visit to Ireland, said Amnesty International.

THE board of directors of Dairygold Co-op elected Bertie O’Leary as chairman and James Lynch as vice-chairman last week (see pictures on page 10).