President invites Chinese counterpart back to Ireland

The Chinese President has been officially invited to visit Ireland.

President Michael D. Higgins extended the invite to Xi Jinping at the start of a meeting at the Great Hall of the People this morning.

Mr Xi previously travelled here in 2012 before he took over the Chinese presidency.

President Higgins also attended an event to celebrate the collaborations between institutions in China and Ireland across a range of scientific disciplines.

Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, said: "Ireland’s international reputation as a leader in research has been enhanced significantly in recent years as a result of almost 2,000 national and international collaborations in 48 countries.

"Further collaboration with our colleagues in China will allow the scientific ecosystem across both nations to grow, to continue to attract quality researchers and foster excellent research."

The President will also meet China's Prime Minister, Mr Li Keqiang, and attend events being organised by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Tourism Ireland, Culture Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and representatives from the university sector.

The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, are accompanying the President and his wife Sabina on the visit that aims to deepen the political, cultural, business, scientific and educational relationships between the two countries.