President Michael D Higgins is beginning to wind his state trip to China, where he is meeting with senior people in Chinese foreign affairs office today.

The visit of President and Sabina Higgins has been given significant coverage by Chinese state media, and afforded full official state status by the government.

President Higgins bi-lateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday was said to be successful and productive - according to both sides 0 particularly in the area of further trade development including agriculture and financial services.

Several cooperation agreements with Irish universities were also signed by NUIG in Beijing and Trinity College Dublin with Fudan University in Shanghai.

Mr Higgins has also met with Asia's richest man, visited the Great Wall of China and extended an invitation to President Xi Jinping - which he accepted.