Vice-president offers help to tackle debt crisis as he visits Ireland

SHANNON, Ireland - Vice-President Xi Jinping reiterated China's support for Europe as it addresses the debt crisis when he arrived in Ireland on Saturday for a three-day visit.

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"China will continue to support, in its own way, efforts of the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to address the European debt problem," Xi said in an interview with the Irish Times at the start of his trip to Ireland.

"We have offered sincere help to our European friends in line with our means, through increased mutual investment and business cooperation," he said.

This month has seen China express, at the highest levels, support for Europe.

President Hu Jintao told European Council President Herman van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Beijing on Wednesday that China would join international efforts to back Europe and the eurozone.

During the China-EU summit on Tuesday, Premier Wen Jiabao pledged that China would play a bigger part in resolving the European sovereign debt issue.

Wen also said at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this month that China would consider greater involvement, especially through the European Stability Mechanism and the European Financial Stability Facility.

Vice-President Xi Jinping arrives at Shannon Airport in western Ireland on Saturday at the start of a three-day visit. [Lan Hongguang / Xinhua]