"Who's the man in black?" asked a Chinese journalist awaiting the arrival of China's Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, at Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman was quick to confirm that the man in black was in fact the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. On closer inspection, Mr Ahern's suit was actually navy, while his partner Ms Celia Larkin wore a bright red skirt and top to meet the Premier of the People's Republic.
Another Chinese reporter wanted to know why Ms Larkin didn't share Mr Ahern's surname. The Irish Times felt obliged to step in to clear that one up in order to avoid a possible diplomatic incident.
Members of the Chinese community living in Ireland smiled politely and waved Tricolours, Chinese flags and flowers as Mr Ahern and Ms Larkin approached the Air China plane for the ceremonial welcome.
However, the crowd became much more animated when Mr Zhu and his wife, Madame Lao An, appeared at the top of the plane's steps. The couple waved, then walked down the steps hand in hand while the Chinese men, women and children chanted "welcome".
Mr Bing Wu, a computer science teacher at DIT who has been living in Ireland for five years, was among the welcoming committee. He said the visit provided a good opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Ireland and China.
The Premier inspected a 50strong guard of honour provided by the First Air Defence Regiment based in the Curragh.
The Chinese national anthem was played and Mr Zhu and his wife were presented with bouquets of flowers by two employees of the Chinese embassy in Dublin, Ms Wu Ren and Ms Ma Yonghua.
Some Chinese photographers who had travelled with the Premier refused to stay within the media compound, despite the efforts of gardai. This caused an Irish photographer to grumble: "If it was one of us who broke ranks they would have been merciless."
Among other Irish dignitaries to greet the Premier were the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, and Mr Declan Connolly, Ireland's Ambassador to China.
