Growing people-to-people connections between Ireland and China are driving more bilateral collaboration, building on efforts to make China a welcoming destination for Irish visitors, said the chairperson of the Irish Chamber of Commerce in China Peter Markey.
Markey underscored that the visa-free policy for Irish passport holders has significantly enhanced accessibility, fundamentally changing perceptions of China.
"It certainly makes it a lot easier. For people who know it's now visa-free, it does change your perception of China. This is much more of a welcoming country. And they are happy to include it on the list of places they want to go," said the business advocate.
In addition to tourism, he underscored the potential for growth in educational exchanges as well as technology and nutritional industries.
"Certainly education is an area where we think there's quite a bit of growth. We do see more and more Chinese people going to Ireland for their education, as well as the Irish universities and technical institutions setting up joint ventures here in China. One of the big areas of Irish exports to China is around IT, computer services, and so forth. Irish food produce is growing strongly, as are Irish beverages, particularly whiskey and similar kinds of drinks. Tourism is growing strongly," he said.
The cultural dimension of the China-Ireland relationship is also gaining traction. Markey highlighted the upcoming performance of the Irish pop band Westlife in Shanghai, which symbolizes the growing appreciation for cultural exchange. He said that these interactions are instrumental in deepening people-to-people ties.
"The cultures are not totally different. We have a lot of common things that we build our cultures on. And, obviously, in China, one of the most important things is eating food. And obviously, Irish people like eating as well. When we all sit around a table, you build rapport and you build cultural connections. What we have in common is the basis to build relationships and build business on," he said.
China’s visa-free policy, innovative market help strengthen bilateral ties: Irish Chamber of Commerce
Chinese tech companies are able to stand out globally due to key advantages including execution efficiency and resilience, leaving them poised to lead the future, said Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of the south China-based tech ecosystem company iMpact, at the ongoing 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
CES, first held in 1967, is a bellwether for the global consumer electronics industry. It annually presents cutting-edge innovations from tech companies in fields including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, smart home systems, and autonomous vehicles.
This year's event runs from January 6-9, featuring product launches, exhibitions, business meetings, and industry forums.
During the exhibition, Pereira shared his observations on the global market performance of Chinese tech enterprises in recent years, highlighting how their success in innovation has reshaped international perceptions of China’s capabilities.
"We're seeing a major shift in views towards Chinese companies in 2026. The last few years has been a gradual evolution of more Chinese tech, more Chinese brands going overseas. You've seen it with Labubu, BYD, TikTok, etc. But this year, 2026, I think there's a massive change, actually. There's a recognition. We're sitting in a Chinese car, enjoying the best of tech and comfort here at CES. And I think that goes across all industries here: we've got smart health, we have new energy. There's even furniture manufacturers building everything across the board that you can think of, building true connection overseas. I think, in building trust along the way -- so, I think that's what we're seeing here," he said.
He emphasized his personal experience working with these companies in south China's tech hub Shenzhen City, noting they possess unique strengths that not only enable them to develop practical, market-ready smart products but also empower them to navigate challenges amid adverse international conditions.
"iMpact, my company -- our slogan is 'We bring the speed of Shenzhen to the world.' I think the number one thing that almost every Chinese company brings is fast execution and very quick responsiveness. That's number one. The second also -- just as important -- (is) to bringing AI to the real world. So AI plus hardware -- you're seeing lots of robot applications here. So using AI to do real things in the world, not just in the cloud or through LLMs (large language models). It's really things -- moving things, cleaning things, helping people. That's the second strength for Chinese companies," said Pereira.
"And the third is the resilience. Chinese companies have had it very difficult overseas the last few years, and I think a lot of the investment that they've made in friendships and connections overseas are bearing fruit in 2026," he said.
Chinese tech firms' newfound global presence builds on responsiveness, resilience: insider
