A host of first-time Irish exhibitors at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo say they are poised to continue building their presence in the huge Chinese market to tap its potential.
This year, Ireland is the "guest country of honor" at the expo being held in Haikou, capital city of the southern Chinese island province of Hainan. In January this year, Irish meat producers welcomed the lifting of a suspension on Irish beef imports to China.
Now, even plant-based brands like The Plant-it Food Co. are eager to expand their image in the Chinese market.
"It's the world's largest food and drink show. The potential is really exciting for us and obviously get some distributors and customers within China. The Chinese economy is really positive and it's growing. So the demand for plant-based products is growing in China and consumers are looking for healthier, nutritious, and fibrous options. The Chinese market is very important to our company strategy going forward," said Brian Mckiernan, sales and marketing manager of The Plant-it Food Co.
Liquor producers also said they hope to take advantage of evolving tastes among Chinese consumers, leveraging Ireland's rich history of whiskey and gin distillation.
"We think the Chinese economy is doing very well. And obviously the Chinese market is a huge market in terms of numbers. And 1.4 billion people, a lot of people are here in China. So at the moment we position it as a certainly a growth market. We really want to grow in China," said Max Geoghegan, international markets manager of The Shed Distillery.
The six-day expo, which will run through Thursday, is hosting over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, showcasing a host of novel and upmarket products for global consumers.
This year's edition features the largest-ever participation, with the UK, Mongolia and Malaysia all setting up national exhibition groups for the first time.
Irish food, liquor brands eye lucrative prospects in Chinese market
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
