China ready to enhance cooperation with Ireland

China is ready to work with Ireland to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, making it bigger, stronger, deeper and more concrete, in order to achieve shared development and prosperity, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Dublin on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.

Wang said China-Ireland relations have continued to develop since China's reform and opening-up over the past four decades, during which time Ireland's successful development of its Shannon Free Zone has provided valuable experience for China, and as China's development has also benefitted Ireland.

Currently, China is committed to further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, and to building a higher-standard open economy, which will create new opportunities for all countries, including Ireland, Wang said.

He expressed China's appreciation of Ireland's positive and pragmatic China policy, and said China would like to work with Ireland to strengthen high-level mutual trust and advance mutually beneficial collaboration for shared development and prosperity.

Wang emphasized that both China and Ireland are staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, and in the context of the current global situation, China is willing to work with Ireland and other countries in Europe based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.

Both sides should continue to enhance dialogue, build trust, and properly manage differences, contributing to peace, stability, and development in a multipolar world, Wang said.

Martin echoed Wang's comments, with remarks on the friendly and strong bilateral relations they share with mutual respect and trust, and agreed that China's modernization and green transition of its economy will bring important opportunities for the world. He noted that Premier Li Qiang paid a successful visit to Ireland last year.

Ireland highly values bilateral relations, and is willing to foster a closer partnership with China while continuing to adhere to the one-China policy, said Martin.

He added that with the rising tide of unilateralism and protectionism globally, Ireland is ready to collaborate with China to uphold multilateralism, support free trade, maintain stable industrial and supply chains, and remain dedicated to resolving disputes through dialogue.

Ireland is also willing to play a constructive role in promoting EU-China dialogue and cooperation, Martin said.

During his visit, Wang also met with Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris.

A unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries was announced during Li's visit last year. And 2024 saw the relaunch of a year-round direct Dublin-Beijing air route, which operates twice weekly.

According to statistics from Ireland's government, China is Ireland's largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, with total bilateral trade of 36 billion euros ($37.7 billion) in 2023. Irish goods exports to China have increased by 529 percent in the decade since 2013.

Ireland also enjoys a trade surplus with China, with its exports to China being driven by medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, computer services, agri-food, and financial services.