Soldier's Song played by military band

OVER 200 soldiers welcomed Micheal Martin in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, as Amhran na bhFiann filled the 1.8 million sq ft building.

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

The military's band was well prepared for the Taoiseach's visit as trumpets and flutes beautifully played Ireland's national anthem.

Before a meeting with Premier Li Qiang on the second day of his China trip, Mr Martin embraced the honorary welcome as he marched along the ceremonial square acknowledging the hundreds of soldiers.

Kicking off his second day, the Taoiseach's motorcade arrived at the Great Hall of the People very shortly after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as they were both meeting the country’s third-highest-ranking politician, Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.