Tax rates, business environment, young workforce among nation's attractions

Ireland has turned to China for investment to support its struggling economic recovery as the ongoing financial crisis in the European Union continues to dog the country.

"It's hopeful that Chinese investment in Ireland will keep fast growth in the near future," Richard Bruton, the Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, told a news conference on Wednesday. "We can say with confidence that investors in Ireland get the best business environment and the best tax treatment in the world. For Chinese investors, Ireland represents a good, low-risk gateway in the EU."