President Higgins arrives for China visit

President Michael D Higgins has arrived in Beijing to begin his week-long state visit to China.

Mr Higgins is being accompanied by his wife Sabina, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

They were greeted at the airport by Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao and Irish Ambassador to China Paul Kavanagh.

Mr Higgins will meet President of China Xi Jinping on Tuesday.