On the first day of his official visit to China, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was given an official welcome in Tiananmen Square complete with military salute, and spent three hours in talks with the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Zhu Rongji, ranging over China's economic reforms, human rights, Tibet and increased trade. Today Mr Ahern, making the first visit to China by a Taoiseach, will meet Chinese President Jiang Zemin and later engage in a dialogue with students at the Foreign Affairs College.
Perhaps the most important commitment which Mr Ahern received yesterday from Mr Zhu, China's top reformer, during 90 minutes of official talks and another hour and a half of conversation over dinner, was that the Beijing leadership has no intention of devaluing its currency - an act which could further destabilise the weakened Asian economies.
"The clear message to us was that in terms of their responsibilities to the global market they want to maintain the credibility and value of their currency at the current level and had no intention of devaluing," Mr Ahern said. "I got a very clear indication this is not something which is being contemplated in the foreseeable future."
In recent weeks there has been much speculation that the Chinese yuan and the Hong Kong dollar would break their links with the US dollar, which could bring about devaluation of both currencies and plunge the region deeper into crisis.
Mr Ahern spent some 20 minutes discussing human rights issues with Mr Zhu. He said he strongly urged the Chinese government to ratify the UN covenant on social and economic rights and sign the covenant on political and civil rights.
He believed the latter accord would now be signed by the Chinese next month, marking a major step towards democracy. He pointed out to Mr Zhu that there was strong public interest in Ireland in Tibet and that, especially in the light of the Belfast Agreement, which he explained in detail, the Government considered that the best way "of dealing with Tibet was that it be resolved through direct dialogue" with the exiled Dalai Lama.
The Chinese Premier replied that there had been indirect contact between President Jiang and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, and that "as long as he stops his separatist activities, then we can talk."
Mr Ahern is accompanied by the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tom Kitt, several senior officials, heads of Government agencies, and a delegation representing about 30 Irish companies.
Mr Kitt and his Chinese counterpart, Mr Shen Yuan Kang, signed an agreement to facilitate access for Irish companies to the expanding civil aviation sector in China, including direct air links between Ireland and China.
On the Irish candidature for membership of the Security Council for 2001-2002, Mr Ahern said the response from Mr Zhu was positive.