China, Ireland pledge deeper cooperation

China, Ireland pledge deeper cooperation as Chinese FM Wang Yi stated during a meeting with Irish PM Micheal Martin.

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

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

Wang stated that China-Ireland relations have continued to develop over the past four decades since China’s reform and opening-up. During this time, Ireland’s successful development of the Shannon Free Zone has provided valuable experience for China, and China’s development has also benefited Ireland.

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

He expressed China’s appreciation for Ireland’s positive and pragmatic China policy and stated that China is eager 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 current global context, China is willing to cooperate with Ireland and other European countries based on principles of equality, mutual respect, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.

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

Martin echoed Wang’s comments, highlighting the friendly and strong bilateral relations based on mutual respect and trust, and agreed that China’s modernization and the green transition of its economy would bring important opportunities for the world. He also noted that Premier Li Qiang made a successful visit to Ireland last year.

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

He added that, in light of 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 resolve 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 Premier Li’s visit last year. Additionally, in 2024, a year-round direct Dublin-Beijing air route was relaunched, operating twice a week.

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

Ireland also enjoys a trade surplus with China, with exports primarily in medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, computer services, agri-food, and financial services.