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China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

China

China

China

China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

2026-01-06 20:12 Last Updated At:01-07 16:47

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, respectively met with President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung and Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin in Beijing on Tuesday.

When meeting with Lee, Zhao noted that over the past three decades and more since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, friendly cooperation has been a distinctive feature of China-ROK ties. He added that the two countries' leaders held talks on Monday, setting the course and mapping out a new blueprint for further developing ties.

China is willing to work with the ROK to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate good-neighborly friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, shore up the foundation of public opinion, and promote the stable and long-term development of China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership, Zhao said.

China's NPC is willing to maintain the sound momentum of high-level exchanges with the ROK National Assembly, strengthen communication and cooperation on multiple levels and in various fields, and provide legal guarantee for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, Zhao added.

For his part, Lee said the ROK is willing to deepen cooperation with China in economy, culture and other fields, step up exchanges between legislative bodies and political parties, and enhance non-governmental exchanges to promote the development of bilateral relations.

When meeting with Martin, Zhao said that China and Ireland enjoy a long-standing friendship. Over the past four decades and more since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and enjoyed steady development of bilateral ties. He added that the two countries' leaders held a meeting on Monday to map out a new blueprint for further development of bilateral relations.

China is willing to work with Ireland to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance mutual understanding and trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the greater development of the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation, Zhao said.

China's NPC is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with the Irish Parliament on legislation, supervision, and national governance experience sharing to facilitate practical cooperation between the two countries, he said.   For his part, Martin lauded China's development as an admirable success story.

Ireland adheres to the one-China policy and is ready to enhance exchanges between legislative bodies of the two sides and deliver more results through cooperation in various areas in the spirit of mutual respect, he said.

China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

China's top legislator respectively meets ROK president, Irish PM

China's economy is expected to maintain stable growth and show greater strengths in 2026, as the fundamentals sustaining the sound growth in the long run remain unchanged, the spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

Mao made the remarks in response to research reports from European financial institutions, which said that China is on course to maintain steady economic growth in 2026 with the underpinning of technological innovation and green transition.

Mao said that Chinese economy overcame risks and challenges in 2025 and contributed around 30 percent to global economic growth.

"Over the past year, China has effectively coped with various risks and challenges facing its economy. Despite mounting economic pressure, China has pushed forward with innovation-led and high-quality development. China has been at the forefront in scientific and technological innovation and green energy transition worldwide. The composite national strength reached new heights. China has continually advanced high-standard opening up and become the major trading partner of over 150 countries and regions. China has contributed around 30 percent to global economic growth, and injected impetus to global development," said Mao.

The spokeswoman also said that the year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and innovation and green development would remain the engines of China's high-quality growth.

"Looking forward, with 2026 marking the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the core conditions supporting China’s long-term positive growth remains firmly in place, with the underlying upward trend unchanged. China will be showing greater strengths. Innovation and green development will be the driver and main features of China’s high-quality development. We will give a boost to common development worldwide through openness and shared benefit and keep advancing voluntary and institutional opening up. We will continue to run our own affairs well, write a new chapter in the story of China miracle, and also open our arms wider to embrace development and prosperity together with other countries. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, we will provide new driving forces and opportunities to both ourselves and the rest of the world," said Mao.

Chinese economy set to maintain stable growth in 2026: spokeswoman

Chinese economy set to maintain stable growth in 2026: spokeswoman

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