Ireland, China to join forces in yacht race

China and Ireland will race together in one boat - the Green Dragon - in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race, one of the world's top sailing events alongside the Olympics and the America's Cup, said Martin Cullen, Ireland's sports minister.

"This is a big global event that will have billions of television viewers around the world," Cullen, Ireland's Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, told China Daily.

"I think it shows the comfortableness of the relationship between China and Ireland that we can enter a global event together," Cullen said.