50,000 CHINESE SET TO VISIT IRELAND; AHERN FORGES NEW TRADE DEAL.Byline: NEIL NEIL Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited NEIL Network Engineering and Integration Lab COTTER cot·ter n. 1. A bolt, wedge, key, or pin inserted through a slot in order to hold parts together. 2. A cotter pin. [Origin unknown. MORE than 50,000 Chinese tourists could visit Ireland every year under a trade plan proposed yesterday by the countries. Speaking after a meeting in the Great Hall Of The People The Great Hall of the People (Simplified Chinese: 人民大会堂; Traditional Chinese: 人民大會堂 in Tiananmen Square, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said an educational, business and cultural link could be forged between the two nations. Mr Ahern, heading a vital trade mission to China, was in Beijing yesterday as security was heightened in the city after the death on Monday of purged Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang. Zhao, who was 85, had been under house arrest since the crushing of democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989. There have been fears Zhao's death might spark off new reformist demonstrations. But undeterred by events, Mr Ahern marked the week-long visit by meeting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. They discussed increased trade and the possible lifting of the EU arms embargo against the Asia superpower. Irish tourism chiefs are particularly anxious to tap into the market of 1.3billion people. Tourism Ireland boss Paul O'Toole said: "Raising the number of visitors to 50,000 has the potential to be highly lucrative as Chinese visitors are the largest per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. shoppers of any country. "It is estimated the average outbound Chinese traveller spends EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 5,700 per visit. "In 2000, the number of outbound Chinese visitors reached 16 million and China will become one of the top three outbound tourism markets in the world in less than 20 years. "Ireland has been accorded 'Approved Destination Status' as a result of an agreement concluded by Minister John O'Donoghue with the Chinese administration earlier this year." The Taoiseach's itinerary for the day finished with a tour of the Beijing landmark, the Hall Of Prayer For Good Harvest. Meanwhile, Mr Ahern said he could re-open talks with Sinn Fein in the near future despite the party's alleged knowledge of the Northern Bank raid. CAPTION(S): MISSION: Bertie Ahern reviews troops in Beijing's Great Hall Of The People yesterday with China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao; PEOPLE POWER: Taoiseach Ahern with Premier Wen Jiabao; HEAVENLY: Mr Ahern is joined by ministers Mary Hanafin and Mary Coughlan at temple |
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