China is willing to work together with Ireland to enhance strategic communication, and expand pragmatic cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin in Beijing on Monday.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Martin is paying an official visit to China from Jan 4 to 8.
During the meeting, Xi noted that China and Ireland are both peace-loving, open, inclusive, and self-reliant countries, adding that the people of the two countries have won national independence and liberation through struggle, and have advanced toward modernization through the continuous efforts of generations.
Since the establishment of the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ireland in 2012, bilateral trade has quadrupled, with mutual investment more balanced, Xi said, adding that people of both countries have worked together to contribute to the development of their respective countries.
China is willing to work together with Ireland to enhance strategic communication, deepen political mutual trust, and expand pragmatic cooperation to benefit the people of the two countries and build momentum for China-EU relations, Xi said.
He stressed that China and Ireland should maintain friendly exchanges at various levels and in various fields, enhance communication and understanding, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.
The two sides should cement political mutual trust, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, Xi said.
Noting that this year marks the beginning of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), Xi said that China will continue its efforts to promote high-quality development, and expand high-standard opening-up in the next five years.
China stands ready to join hands with Ireland to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, align development strategies in such fields as artificial intelligence, digital economy, and medicine and health, promote two-way investment, and leverage their respective strengths, to share opportunities and pursue common development, Xi said.
The two countries should strengthen cooperation in education, culture and tourism, and build closer bond between the people, he said, adding that China welcomes more Irish youths to study in China.
In a world beset with changes and chaos, unilateral and bullying acts are severely undermining the international order, Xi noted.
All countries should respect the development paths chosen by the people of other nations, and abide by international law as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with major countries taking the lead in doing so, he stressed.
Stressing that both China and Ireland support multilateralism, advocate international fairness and justice, Xi said that the two sides should enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and jointly uphold the authority of the United Nations, to make the global governance system more just and equitable.
China and the EU should take a long-term perspective, uphold their positioning as partners, view and handle differences in an objective and rational way, and pursue win-win cooperation, Xi said.
Noting Ireland will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year, President Xi expressed the hope that Ireland could play a constructive role in the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations.
For his part, Martin said that Ireland and China enjoy profound and longstanding friendship, with economic and trade cooperation between the two countries enhanced and people-to-people exchanges ever closer.
Recalling Xi's visit to Ireland in 2012, Martin said that the visit has laid solid foundations for the Ireland-China strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation in recent years.
Reiterating his country's firm adherence to one-China policy, Martin said that Ireland is committed to strengthening and developing the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two counties, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, biomedicine, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and education.
China plays an indispensable and vital role in international affairs, making positive contributions to upholding the authority of the United Nations and promoting world peace, the Irish prime minister said, adding that any international dispute should be solved in accordance with international law.
Ireland stands ready to maintain close communication and coordination with China to uphold international law, adhere to free and open trade, and promote global prosperity and stability, Martin said.
Noting the significance of the steady development of EU-China relations, Martin said that Ireland is willing to play a constructive role in advancing the sound development of EU-China relations.
China willing to enhance strategic communication, expand pragmatic cooperation with Ireland: Xi
