Taoiseach leads mission to China

A high-profile trade mission to China next week, which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will lead, will be hugely beneficial to Ireland in relation to the food and drink sectors and will lay the basis for increased trade between the countries, according to Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

She will head a food and drink industry delegation as part of the wider January (17-22) trade mission. She will be accompanied by Tom Moran, secretary general, other officials of her Department and Bord Bia representatives.

Minister Coughlan will accompany the Taoiseach at meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao and will also hold talks with the Chinese Minister of Agriculture and with the chairman of the Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), which is responsible for imports into China.