In America Mr Hu will be at China's usual pains to stress it wants only peace.

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Since then, Mr Rubinstein has been at pains to be seen to be tough, aware that any perceived soft-pedalling of politicians' peccadillos will instantly be challenged in the High Court.

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Mr Cheney was certainly at pains to be diplomatic.

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To be sure, Speaker Boehner and other Republican leaders have been at pains to allay such concerns.

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Worrying that this could also be an issue at the Cineplex, the filmmakers have taken great pains to make The Golden Compass amusing, exciting and grand without ever raising anyone's hackles.

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Yet, encouragingly, donor governments have so far been at pains to promise that tsunami-related aid will not be at the expense of existing aid budgets.

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But Dein was at pains to suggest that the defender's relationship with Arsenal remains good and that the player will be staying at Highbury.

BBC: SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Wenger to be offered job for life