The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will today meet with leading Chinese politicians, including the Chinese premier, Mr Wen Jiabao, on the first day of the biggest-ever Irish trade mission abroad.
Following his arrival last night in Beijing, Mr Ahern attended a reception in the Irish Embassy for more than 200 Irish business people on the trip organised by Enterprise Ireland.
He will be joined during the week by the Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin; the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Martin; the Minister for Agriculture, Ms Coughlan, and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dempsey.
Today, Mr Ahern will deliver a major address on foreign policy issues affecting Ireland, the European Union, China and the rest of the world in the Tsinghua University in the city.
Accompanied by the Irish Ambassador to China, Mr Declan Kelleher, Mr Ahern will later meet with the Chinese premier in the Great Hall of the People.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will lead talks between Irish software designers and potential Chinese customers.
The Taoiseach will open a food and drink exhibition organised by An Bord Bia, along with the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
More than 600 people, including members of the small Irish community in Beijing, will attend a reception later tonight in a Beijing hotel hosted by Ambassador Kelleher.
Up to 800 people will attend a business breakfast tomorrow morning organised by Enterprise Ireland and other Irish agencies.
Later that day, Mr Ahern will attend talks involving Irish third-level institutions and their Chinese counterparts co-hosted by the Minister for Education and Science.
Dublin City University, the Dublin Institute of Technology and University College, Dublin are all bidding to attract greater numbers of third-level students. They also want to organise exchange links for Irish students, along with developing Irish-run education courses in China.
The Taoiseach will meet with the Chinese president, Mr Hu Jintao, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing tomorrow afternoon.
Afterwards there will be a courtesy call on the chairman of the National People's Congress, Mr Wu Bangguo.
On Thursday, Mr Ahern will deliver an economic speech in Fudan University in Shanghai. Then he will witness the signing of a deal to improve links between that university and Trinity College Dublin.
Shannon Development, which has in the past attracted considerable attention from Chinese politicians and business people, will make a presentation to Shanghai investors interested in setting up a European base on Thursday afternoon.
A number of significant contracts are expected to be signed during the week, including one involving Kerry Group.
However, many of those travelling on the Enterprise Ireland-organised trade mission are taking their first look at the potential offered by the growth in the Chinese economy in recent years.