Beijing Letter: Ireland increasingly seen by China as a bridge to the EU

News Snapshot:

President Michael D Higgins and Chinese premier Li Qiang. Chinese readers might be forgiven for thinking Ireland is governed from the Áras. Photograph: Maxwells Chinese premier Li Qiang’s visit to Ireland was front-page news in China on Thursday, with a report in the People’s Daily accompanied by a picture of him with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. Other newspapers carried the report by Xinhua, China’s news agency, and the story also made the television news. “China meets with Irish President Higgins,” the People’s Daily headline said. The President featured prominently in the coverage, and Chinese readers might...