September 4, 2001

The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, has raised concerns over human rights issues with his Chinese counterpart, Zhu Rongji, during a meeting in Dublin.

Mr Zhu defended China's tough measures against the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement,[...].

Mr Ahern said Mr Zhu assured him that he would look into the case of a Chinese student of Dublin's Trinity College.

The student, Zhau Ming, was a follower of Falun Gong, and was arrested when he returned to China on holiday last year.

The two prime ministers went on to hold extensive talks about trade opportunities between the two countries.

However, several hundred demonstrators raised human rights issues again at a protest as Mr Zhu arrived for a state dinner at Dublin Castle.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1521000/1521787.stm