A Trinity College student and Falun Gong practitioner who has been imprisoned in a Chinese labor camp for more than two years will be freed this March, according to the Department for Foreign Affairs.

A spokesman for the department said the Chinese authorities agreed to release Zhao Ming during minister Brian Cowen's trip to the country this week.

Zhao was studying computer sciences in Dublin when he was arrested during a visit to China at Christmas 1999.

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Zhao's supporters in Ireland have accused the Chinese authorities of torturing him in various prison camps.

They said the 30-year-old student was forced to undergo "brain-washing" sessions and forced to stand still for up to 18 hours a day.

They also said he was tortured into signing statements denouncing Falun Gong.

Both the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and President Mary McAleese raised the case with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his controversial visit to Ireland last year.

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