The four-day visit to Ireland by the Chinese Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, and his large entourage is a tribute to the development of bilateral relations between the two states and peoples. Trade, economic development, human rights, cultural relations and United Nations Security Council policies were the main agenda items between Mr Rongji and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday.
China's vast size and population, together with its rapid economic growth and emerging geopolitical power, make it an indispensable partner for a small state such as Ireland which depends so much on international involvement for its livelihood. From the Chinese point of view, Ireland's recent economic success, its membership of the European Union and the Security Council, and its diaspora make it a valuable partner despite the great differences in size.
All these factors were at play in yesterday's discussions. A central theme in Irish and international debate is whether it is better to engage with Chinese leaders despite the danger that this might play into the hands of its government in their denial of human rights to the Chinese and Tibetan peoples.
Justifiably, the Government has opted for dialogue in the belief that a maturing political relationship allows it to raise political and human rights issues in a frank and friendly atmosphere. Yesterday, Mr Ahern so dealt with the case of the TCD student, Mr Zhao Ming, a Falun Gong devotee imprisoned for his beliefs.
In his interview with this newspaper's Asia Correspondent, Mr Rongji underlined that "the kind of democracy we are to develop should help maintain national unity, ethnic solidarity and social stability" among China's 1.3 billion population. He said different national traditions and stages of development create different attitudes to political and human rights. The Chinese leadership is acutely aware of the difficulties in holding together the vast country as the capitalist market economy which Mr Rongji has championed, integrates with others through the World Trade Organisation, in what Mr Ahern described last night as "perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching programme of economic transformation ever undertaken". If mishandled, inequalities between town and country, the developed east and the huge agricultural interior, could break China apart.
Lessons learned from Ireland's experience of economic development, based on education, science and technology, and involving the gradual reduction of state involvement, are seen by the Chinese as having serious potential for the next stage of their development.
Taking advantage of that mutual interest, while maintaining the ability to negotiate on political and human rights issues, is a stern test of the Government's diplomacy and statesmanship.