Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at Dublin on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Ireland, the last leg of his five-nation European tour.

Wen's visit to Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, came just after the "Emerald Isle" presided over the May 1 grand ceremony marking the bloc's biggest-ever enlargement with the entry of 10 new members.

Wen is scheduled to discuss issues of common concern with his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, later on Tuesday.

Before holding a joint press conference on Tuesday, the two leaders will attend a ceremony for signing a memorandum of understanding on listing Ireland as a tour destination for Chinese citizens.

On Wednesday, Wen will attend a business breakfast and visit the office of Iona Technologies, an Irish software company doing business in China.

He will also meet with Irish President Mary McAleese before departing for Shannon, west Ireland, where he is scheduled to visit Shannon Development and the University of Limerick.

Wen's European tour, the first since he took office last year, has already taken him to Germany, Belgium, the EU headquarters in Brussels, Italy and Britain. He is scheduled to leave Ireland for Beijing Wednesday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2004)