Mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are valuable experiences for the long-term and stable development of China-Ireland relations, which both sides should jointly carry forward and promote, said Chinese President Xi Jinping when meeting with visiting Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin in Beijing on Monday.
Martin arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon for an official visit to China, which marks the first visit by an Irish leader to China in 14 years.
Xi first extended his welcome to Martin for his visit to China at the beginning of a new year. "You are the first leader of a European country received by China in the new year, which reflects the high regard that both sides attach to China-Ireland relations. Though with different histories, cultures and national conditions, both China and Ireland love peace, are open and inclusive, and are self-reliant and enterprising. The peoples of the two countries won national independence and liberation through struggle and moved towards modernization through the continuous efforts of several generations. Mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are valuable experiences for the long-term and stable development of China-Ireland relations, which both sides should jointly carry forward and promote," Xi said.
Martin thanked Xi for the warm welcome.
"I acknowledge also this is the first visit of a European leader this year to China, and reflects the deep and long-standing relationship between our two countries. We recognize and acknowledge China's indispensable role in the world today, and the contribution you make to the United Nations, particularly in peace keeping. We all depend on each other, and I think if we can maintain that spirit into the future, our relationship would continue to grow, and would continue to strengthen," Martin said.
Respect, equality, mutual benefit valuable experience for China-Ireland ties: Xi
Respect, equality, mutual benefit valuable experience for China-Ireland ties: Xi
Respect, equality, mutual benefit valuable experience for China-Ireland ties: Xi
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
