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Thousand of people held a two-minute silence in tribute to the victims

People across New Zealand have been holding memorial services to remember the 185 people who died in a powerful earthquake in Christchurch a year ago.

Two minutes’ silence were observed at 12:51 local time – the exact moment the 6.3-magnitude quake struck.

Prime Minister John Key said the tremor had “changed everything”, but had not broken the city’s spirit.

The quake wrecked central Christchurch, and is considered the country’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

At a ceremony at North Hagley Park in Christchurch, tens of thousands gathered for a solemn and tearful memorial.

Family members of the victims were seen joining arms and bowing their heads during the ceremony that included songs and speeches.

Governor General Jerry Mateparae read a message of condolence from Prince Charles, while a video from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was played.

“Even those if us who were far away on that terrible day share your grief and we know it’s been a struggle,” she said. “But through that struggle we’ve seen the strength and perseverance of the people of Christchurch.”

Earlier, a memorial was held in Christchurch’s Latimer Square for families of the victims. Children released 185 monarch butterflies at the park in memory of those who died.

Speaking in the city, the prime minister said it had been one of New Zealand’s darkest days.

“People were huddled under blankets, sirens were blaring, and dust and smoke was thick in the air,” he told mourners in the square, which was used as a makeshift medical centre on the day of the quake.

“There were fires, helicopters with monsoon buckets hovering overhead.”

Rebuilding efforts

Ahead of the anniversary, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told the BBC that “the big task of rebuilding is just getting under way now”.

“It has been a massive job and continues to be so,” he said of recovery efforts.

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Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker: “I am amazed at the progress we have been able to make”

Immediately after the quake, it was believed that up to 10,000 homes would have to be demolished and 100,000 would need repairs.

“In terms of where we have got to so far, there are many thousands of residential homes that needed to be examined,” Mr Parker said.

“New areas for residential growth opened up because we realised that some pieces of land were no longer suitable for people to live in. They were just unable to be strengthened in the appropriate way and we want to be the safest city in the world.

“So any decisions that we make have to be well-judged decisions around the safety of land and the safety of buildings.”

Almost two-thirds of the deaths during the quake happened when the six-story Canterbury Television (CTV) building collapsed.

Those killed included people of many different nationalities because there was a language school in the building.

An official report from the Department of Building and Housing released on 9 February stated that it did not meet requirements when it was built in 1986. The load-bearing columns were not sufficiently reinforced with steel, it said.

The historic cathedral was among the buildings ruined by the quake

After the quake struck, it was thought that people would start leaving New Zealand’s second-largest city.

According to Mr Parker, only 10,000 of the base population of 500,000 have actually left. He sees this as “the greatest vote of confidence”.

The city is now recruiting thousands of skilled workers to fuel its NZ$30bn ($24.4bn) rebuilding effort.

The area is frequently hit by tremors, with major quakes striking the city in June and December last year.

Six months before the devastating quake, the region was shaken by a 7.1-magnitude quake, but that did not cause major destruction.

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Cordon zone

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has been working to clear and rebuild parts of the city since the February quake and a number of after-shocks that have followed. The area cordoned off to the public has been gradually reduced but it is estimated more than 60% of the historic buildings in central Christchurch were destroyed or severely damaged.

Christchurch Cathedral

Badly damaged in the earthquake, the cathedral has since been made structurally safe so the bells and other artefacts could be removed. The cathedral was deconsecrated in November and parts of it will be demolished before it can be rebuilt at a cost of NZ$30m.

Hotel Grand Chancellor

The 26-storey building suffered severe damage in the quake and is now being taken apart floor by floor. More than 800 other buildings in the city centre have been earmarked for demolition or partial demolition.

Cashel Mall

The Cashel shopping centre was devastated by the quake. A new temporary mall of more than 20 stores built out of shipping containers, opened in October 2011.

AMI stadium

The AMI stadium suffered severe earthquake damage and will not reopen this year. Engineers have recommended at least one stand should be demolished – they are still working out how best to repair other seating stands which dropped several centimetres in the quake. The pitch is being removed to a rugby league ground.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17109288

Unearthed in Western Australia, the Argyle Pink Jubilee is a rare pink diamond (Image: Rio Tinto)

An Australian mining company says it has found a 12.76-carat pink diamond, the largest rough pink diamond found in the country.

The rare diamond was found at Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia’s East Kimberly region.

Estimated to be worth millions, it has been named the Argyle Pink Jubilee, and is being cut and polished in Perth.

It will be sold later this year after being shown around the world, including in New York and Hong Kong.

The process of polishing and cutting, which began in Perth on Tuesday, is expected to take about 10 days. The diamond will then be graded by a team of international experts.

More than 90% of the pink diamonds in the world come from the Argyle mine, a Rio Tinto statement said.

The Argyle Pink Jubilee is a light pink diamond, the company said. It is similar in colour to The Williamson Pink – the diamond found in Tanzania that Queen Elizabeth II received as a wedding gift and which was subsequently set into a brooch for her coronation.

A Rio Tinto spokesperson said that a diamond of this calibre was ”unprecedented”.

”It has taken 26 years of Argyle production to unearth this stone and we may never see one like this again,” said Argyle Pink Diamonds Manager Josephine Johnson.

In 2010, a rare 24.78-carat “fancy intense pink” diamond was sold for a record-breaking $46 million (£29m), the highest price ever paid for a jewel, to a well-known British dealer at an auction in Geneva.

That diamond had been in a private collection for 60 years.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17108778

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Kevin Rudd: “I am sad that it has come to this”

Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has resigned amid widespread reports of a leadership tussle between him and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

He made the announcement at a press conference in Washington DC, where he had earlier met US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Ms Gillard ousted Mr Rudd as PM in June 2010. There has been speculation he plans to challenge her for the top job.

Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd did not inform her he intended to resign.

Amid the leadership wrangling she had faced calls from backbenchers to sack Mr Rudd – who said her failure to defend him from these attacks had helped him come to a decision.

“The simple truth is that I cannot continue to serve as foreign minister if I don’t have Prime Minister Gillard’s support,” he said late Tuesday night at the press conference in the US, which was broadcast live in Australia.

“I therefore believe the only honourable course of action is for me to resign.”

He did not say if he would be challenging Ms Gillard for the leadership, but confirmed that he would leave the US the next day, arriving home in Brisbane on Friday morning.

He said he would not be involved in a “stealth attack on a sitting prime minister”.

“We all know that what happened then was wrong and it must never happen again,” he said, referring to how he was ousted.

Mr Rudd said he would consult his family and community before making an announcement about his future. He would do so before parliament returned next week, he said.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Duncan Kennedy
BBC News, Sydney

The speculation about Kevin Rudd’s future has been the political story of Australia’s summer and about as stormy. The “will-he-or-won’t-he-go” brigade have been filling radio and television studios with their theories for months.

There is no one reason why he is going, despite his claim that it is all about “faceless” government ministers attacking his integrity. There do not appear to be any major policy differences between himself and PM Julia Gillard.

That is why many believe this is about unfinished business. It is most likely he still feels bitter at being elbowed out of the PM’s job by Ms Gillard in June 2010.

But will that mean he will try to get his old job back by mounting a challenge? No one really knows. If he goes for it, does he have the numbers and if he wins what will that mean for party unity? If he loses, what then?

Either way, it is a risky strategy for the now-former foreign minister known on Twitter as K Rudd, especially with an election due in 2013 and the opposition very much in front.

Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd has not been in touch before his press conference.

“I am disappointed that the concerns Mr Rudd has publicly expressed this evening were never personally raised with me, nor did he contact me to discuss his resignation prior to his decision,” she said in a statement.

She said that she would call a press conference on Thursday to “make a further statement”.

Poll slide

In recent days speculation had been mounting that Mr Rudd’s supporters were planning a leadership challenge.

The ruling Labor Party government is struggling to retain voter support and Ms Gillard has been slipping in popularity polls. She leads a minority government which relies on independents for its wafer-thin majority.

She was grilled by Australian media last week over allegations that her staff worked on a “victory speech” two weeks before she ousted Mr Rudd.

She refused to say for certain if she knew the speech was being prepared in advance, but stressed that she did not commission it.

After the interview, polls published in The Australian newspaper showed that she had lost ground to opposition leader Tony Abbott. While support for him rose three points to 40%, hers dropped to 37%.

At the press conference, Mr Rudd appeared to cast doubt on Ms Gillard’s ability to defeat opposition leader Tony Abbott in the next election, due in 2013, asking colleagues who was best placed to lead the party to victory.

“Mr Abbott, I believe, does not have the temperament or the experience to ever be elected to hold the high office of prime minister of Australia,” he said.

“But at present, and for a long time now, he has been on track just to do that.”

Mr Abbott, for his part, said the ”instability” was ”damaging Australia” and the government showing itself ”unworthy to continue in office”.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17123397

Almost 200 people were killed and the centre of the city was left in ruins.

People are marking the anniversary with events throughout the country and a two minute silence for those who lost their lives.

The BBC’s Lucy Hockings reports from Christchurch.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-17113662

On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials.

He was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

The BBC’s Ruth McDonald reports.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17093004

Ponting, 37, who captained Australia to two World Cup wins, has scored only 18 runs in five innings in

the tri-series.

“Ricky has been dropped due to his lack of form in this series,” confirmed national selector John Inverarity.

“He’ll consider his future over the next couple of days. We hope he remains available for Test match cricket.”

Highest-scoring one-day batsmen of all time

1. Sachin Tendulkar

(Ind) Runs: 18,179. Average: 44.88

2. Ricky Ponting

(Aus). Runs: 13,704. Average: 42.03

3. Sanath Jayasuriya

(SL). Runs: 13,430. Average: 32.36

4. Inzamam-ul-Haq

(Pak) Runs: 11,739. Average: 39.52

5. Jacques Kallis

(SA). Runs: 11,481. Average: 45.55

The Tasmanian’s omission from the squad comes after he stepped in to lead the side to one victory and one defeat in their previous two games in the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke.

“Ricky being prepared to take over the captaincy in Clarke’s recent absence for the sake of the team is yet another example of his selfless attitude and team-first focus,” Inverarity added.

Ponting, who

resigned the captaincy after the 2011 World Cup,

has played in 375 one-day internationals, scoring 13,704 runs at an average of 42.

The Tasmanian has hit 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries as well as taking 160 catches.

“Ricky’s record speaks for itself. He is one of the truly great performers in the history of Australian ODI cricket, with his reputation enhanced further by him captaining Australia to two World Cup victories,” said Inverarity.

“Ricky’s contribution goes far beyond his batting statistics and his brilliant fielding. The example he sets in every respect and his extraordinarily positive influence in the dressing room is acknowledged by all.

“He is held in the highest possible regard by his team-mates and there is no higher accolade than this.”

Ponting is now expected to weigh up whether to retire from international cricket or continue as a Test player.

Facing calls to quit at the end of last year following a run of low Test scores,

he silenced his critics by smashing 544 runs at an average of 108.8 

in the recent 4-0 whitewash of India.

Clarke returns to the 13-man squad after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Shane Watson is also back from injury and pace bowler Ryan Harris replaces Mitchell Starc.

Inverarity also confirmed that 24-year-old Matthew Wade was the side’s preferred wicketkeeper and he would be touring the West Indies alongside out-of-form Test gloveman Brad Haddin.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17094222

More than 200 people were killed and hundreds injured as Japanese planes bombed what was a strategically important port used by the Americans.

The raid came three months after Pearl Harbour and, in many ways, was overshadowed and forgotten because of that attack on America.

News of the Darwin raid only filtered out a month after it happened and it has taken until recent times for the full story to emerge.

Duncan Kennedy reports from Darwin.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17080693

More than 200 people were killed and hundreds injured as Japanese planes bombed what was a strategically important port used by the Americans.

The raid came three months after Pearl Harbour and, in many ways, was overshadowed and forgotten because of that attack on America.

News of the Darwin raid only filtered out a month after it happened and it has taken until recent times for the full story to emerge.

Duncan Kennedy reports from Darwin.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17080693

Xi Jinping swung a hurling stick in Croke Park

The man tipped to become China’s future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade.

On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials.

New pacts to promote trade, investment and education were signed.

While China dwarfs the Republic, both are big exporters and Ireland is keen to promote its tourist industry.

Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey.

Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China’s human rights record during talks with the vice-president.

‘Much to offer’

Mr Xi and the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, witnessed the signing of agreements at Dublin Castle between government departments, state agencies, universities and companies.

“Ireland and China have much to offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment,” said Mr Kenny.

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Will Xi Jinping be China’s next leader? Damian Grammaticas reports on what we know of the man in line to steer China through the coming years

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth about 4.2bn euros (£3.5bn; $5.5bn) in 2010.

Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes.

After flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle.

On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration at Croke Park of Irish sports – hurling (a form of hockey) and Gaelic football.

The Chinese vice-president swung a hurling stick and kicked a football for the cameras.

“He showed some admirable skills for his first time kicking on what is… a very holy turf for us,” said Alan Milton, a spokesman at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Mr Xi was also due to see a special performance of the hit show Riverdance.

‘Exemplary’ relations

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development’s chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day”

End Quote
Noeleen Hartigan
Amnesty International Ireland

“China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world’s population,” he said.

“The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country.”

Mr Xi’s visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media.

China’s Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries’ ties as “an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems”.

Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people’s “enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world”.

But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China.

“Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,” she said.

Xi Jinping swung a hurling stick in Croke Park

The man tipped to become China’s future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade.

On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials.

New pacts to promote trade, investment and education were signed.

While China dwarfs the Republic, both are big exporters and Ireland is keen to promote its tourist industry.

Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey.

Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China’s human rights record during talks with the vice-president.

Farm visit

Mr Xi and the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, witnessed the signing of agreements at Dublin Castle between government departments, state agencies, universities and companies.

“Ireland and China have much to offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment,” said Mr Kenny.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Will Xi Jinping be China’s next leader? Damian Grammaticas reports on what we know of the man in line to steer China through the coming years

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth about 4.2bn euros (£3.5bn; $5.5bn) in 2010.

Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes.

After flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle.

On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration at Croke Park of Irish sports – hurling (a form of hockey) and Gaelic football.

The Chinese vice-president swung a hurling stick and kicked a football for the cameras.

“He showed some admirable skills for his first time kicking on what is… a very holy turf for us,” Alan Milton, a spokesman at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), told Reuters news agency.

Mr Xi was also due to see a special performance of the hit show Riverdance.

‘Exemplary’ relations

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development’s chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day”

End Quote
Noeleen Hartigan
Amnesty International Ireland

“China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world’s population,” he said.

“The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country.”

Mr Xi’s visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media.

China’s Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries’ ties as “an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems”.

Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people’s “enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world”.

But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China.

“Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,” she said.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17090330

Xi Jinping swung a hurling stick in Croke Park

The man tipped to become China’s future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade.

On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials.

New pacts to promote trade, investment and education were signed.

While China dwarfs the Republic, both are big exporters and Ireland is keen to promote its tourist industry.

Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey.

Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China’s human rights record during talks with the vice-president.

‘Much to offer’

Mr Xi and the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, witnessed the signing of agreements at Dublin Castle between government departments, state agencies, universities and companies.

“Ireland and China have much to offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment,” said Mr Kenny.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Will Xi Jinping be China’s next leader? Damian Grammaticas reports on what we know of the man in line to steer China through the coming years

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth about 4.2bn euros (£3.5bn; $5.5bn) in 2010.

Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes.

After flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle.

On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration at Croke Park of Irish sports – hurling (a form of hockey) and Gaelic football.

The Chinese vice-president swung a hurling stick and kicked a football for the cameras.

“He showed some admirable skills for his first time kicking on what is… a very holy turf for us,” said Alan Milton, a spokesman at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

Mr Xi was also due to see a special performance of the hit show Riverdance.

‘Exemplary’ relations

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development’s chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day”

End Quote
Noeleen Hartigan
Amnesty International Ireland

“China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world’s population,” he said.

“The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country.”

Mr Xi’s visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media.

China’s Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries’ ties as “an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems”.

Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people’s “enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world”.

But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China.

“Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,” she said.

Xi Jinping swung a hurling stick in Croke Park

The man tipped to become China’s future leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, is making a three-day visit to the Irish Republic with the focus on trade.

On his only stop in an EU state after visiting the US, Mr Xi arrived with a delegation of 150 business leaders and government officials.

New pacts to promote trade, investment and education were signed.

While China dwarfs the Republic, both are big exporters and Ireland is keen to promote its tourist industry.

Mr Xi arrived on Saturday after a five-day visit to the US, and is due to leave again on Monday, heading for Turkey.

Campaigners have called on Irish leaders to raise China’s human rights record during talks with the vice-president.

Farm visit

Mr Xi and the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, witnessed the signing of agreements at Dublin Castle between government departments, state agencies, universities and companies.

“Ireland and China have much to offer each other in food and agriculture, in high technology research and in investment,” said Mr Kenny.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Will Xi Jinping be China’s next leader? Damian Grammaticas reports on what we know of the man in line to steer China through the coming years

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth about 4.2bn euros (£3.5bn; $5.5bn) in 2010.

Although China accounts for just 2.5% of Irish merchandise exports and 1.9% of services, it is being targeted as a key growth area, Reuters news agency notes.

After flying into Shannon Airport in the west of the Republic on Saturday evening, Mr Xi visited the offices of Shannon Development business park and attended a traditional banquet at Bunratty Castle.

On Sunday, he was given a 40-minute tour of a family-run dairy farm at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

He then travelled to Dublin for a demonstration at Croke Park of Irish sports – hurling (a form of hockey) and Gaelic football.

The Chinese vice-president swung a hurling stick and kicked a football for the cameras.

“He showed some admirable skills for his first time kicking on what is… a very holy turf for us,” Alan Milton, a spokesman at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), told Reuters news agency.

Mr Xi was also due to see a special performance of the hit show Riverdance.

‘Exemplary’ relations

Dr Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development’s chief executive, said the trip would enhance good relations between Irish and Chinese businesses.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day”

End Quote
Noeleen Hartigan
Amnesty International Ireland

“China has a population of over 1.3 billion which represents 20% of the world’s population,” he said.

“The fact that the Chinese vice-president is spending almost three days in Ireland is a major boost for the country.”

Mr Xi’s visit is being closely followed by Chinese state media.

China’s Ambassador to Ireland, Luo Linquan, described the two countries’ ties as “an exemplar of how friendly co-existence can be maintained between two countries of different sizes and systems”.

Answering written questions from the Irish Times, Mr Xi himself said Chinese people admired Irish people’s “enterprising spirit and enormous contribution to development around the world”.

But Noeleen Hartigan, programmes director of Amnesty International Ireland, said it was crucial the Irish government made clear the concerns of many Irish people about human rights abuses in China.

“Even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,” she said.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17090330