Mr Zhu Rongji, who arrived yesterday along with an entourage of some 150 people, is the first foreign dignitary to stay at Farmleigh, the former Guinness estate in the Phoenix Park, bought and refurbished by the State at a cost of £41 million.
Accompanied by a fleet of motorcycle outriders, an escort of honour from the Army's 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Mr Zhu and his wife Madame Lao An swept into Farmleigh at about 3 p.m., a little behind schedule.
The windows of the lavishly redecorated house were polished to perfection and glinted in the sunlight; not a trace of finger marks remained from curious visitors shown around the newly-opened premises just a few weeks ago. Armed gardai were positioned on the roof.
Mr Zhu, holder of the unwieldy title of standing committee member, Political Bureau of the 15th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, stepped out to a red carpet on the steps of what is surely the State's plushest B&B.
The Premier was welcomed by the lead rider in the escort of honour, Adjt Micheal Conneely, 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha barracks.
Although the waiting Irish and Chinese media could not hear the greeting, officials assured us the formal greeting was, as it always is, as Gaeilge. Adjt Conneely stood to attention until formally told to stand down by Mr Zhu.
The Premier was greeted by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of Public Works, including Mr Barry Murphy, chairman of the OPW, Ms Mary Heffernan, manager of Farmleigh, Mr Declan McCarthy, general manager of Farmleigh and the Commissioner of Public Works, Mr David Byers.
Renowned for his no-nonsense approach to getting things done in China, Mr Zhu posed briefly and sternly for photographs before entering Farmleigh, his abode for the next few days, to sign the guest book. He was followed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who stayed for just a few minutes.
Despite fears that human rights protests would mark the visit, just a handful of people stood outside on the approach to the estate with posters calling for the release of a prisoner in China. Not that they would have reached the house - what appeared to be dozens of gardai lined the approach route.