Business breakfast marks China link

Dublin: The Ireland China Association, established to promote greater economic ties between the two countries, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a business breakfast in the Merrion room of the RDS on Thursday at 7.30am.

Figures show the number of Irish companies doing business in China has increased from 10 in 1999 to over 400 by 2010.

Merchandise exports increased 14-fold from €119m in 1999 to €1.6bn in 2009.

Merchandise imports increased almost three-fold in the same period from €656m to over €2bn in 2009.