The murder of Zhao Liu Tao, a 29 year old Chinese student, in Dublin last week after a racist attack has profoundly shocked the rapidly growing Chinese community in Ireland and all those who value their contribution to Irish society.
Feature articles in today's Weekend supplement explain why so many are coming here to study and the harsh financial and working conditions they often endure.
That they should have to suffer increased levels of racist abuse is a disgrace and a condemnation of Ireland's treatment of ethnic minorities.
This State benefits greatly from the flow of Chinese people here to study and work. They pay hefty fees to the language schools and colleges they attend and high rents they can ill afford for accommodation.
They are prepared to work long hours in low paid jobs to fund their stay. In Dublin Chinese students bring a welcome diversity to the streets, shops, bars and public transport systems. They have a distinctive work ethic which makes them admirably self-sufficient and display a cheerful openness and readiness to learn from their host society for which we ought to be grateful.
Many of them come from relatively well-off families in provinces of north-eastern China afflicted by industrial decline.
When in due course they return home with skills learned in Ireland these young people could help to build up an important bond of goodwill and interest with Ireland of potentially mutual benefit for years to come. Already trade and investment with China has grown sharply.
This has been reflected in the growing number of high-level political contacts between the two countries. The Chinese are keen to learn more about Ireland's success in a globalised world economy and are intrigued to compare their own experience with that of the Irish overseas.
These are all good reasons why we should be much more alert to ensuring these visitors are protected from racism or exploitation during their time in Ireland.
The reports published today make it clear there is a need for a properly resourced advice centre, including translation facilities, to help Chinese students adjust and channel them to whatever social and medical services they are entitled to. Pride and honour can inhibit open discussion of the need for such a centre from the Chinese community itself, which does not have a tradition of relying on welfare services.
It would be a real gesture of welcome from this State, and a gesture of solidarity after these racist attacks, if such a centre could be publicly financed.