Dublin-Beijing twinning to be discussed

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Maurice Ahern, has said he expects the Chinese to raise the question of twinning with Beijing during his visit to China.

The prospect of the two capitals being linked has outraged human rights campaigners. Mr Ahern today sets off on a four-day visit to China.

He said the twinning issue was not on his formal agenda but he did expect it to be raised informally.

The Lord Mayor has described his visit as a factfinding one and said he would report back to Dublin Corporation.

He admitted there were many opponents to the twinning but said there were also people who believed the past should be left in the past.

Mr Ahern, a brother of the Taoiseach, said it was no secret that the Government had been trying to forge closer links with China.

During the visit he will also raise the case of a Trinity College student who is being detained by the Chinese during a trip home.