Minister to meet Irish business leaders in China

Foreign Minister Micheal Martin will meet with Irish business leaders in China today as part of a five-day visit to the country.

During the trip, aimed at promoting diplomatic, trade and education links, Mr Martin will also hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and with the country’s Vice Premier, Li Keqiang.

The minister will visit the Irish Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, attend events at the city’s Fudan University and the Foreign Studies University in Beijing, and travel to Hong Kong and the cities of Shenzen and Dalian in support of Irish business interests there.

He will also take in the Shanghai International Arts Festival, which features work by home-grown artists including two new plays by Cork playwright Conal Creedon.

Mr Martin said the trip would enhance the already significant bilateral relationship between Ireland and China.

“The message throughout the week will be the same in each city, each university and each meeting – and that is that Ireland has one of the best educated, highly skilled and talented workforces in the world and that our country is the pre-eminent location for fresh thinking where smart people turn innovative ideas into world class goods and services,” he said.

“I look forward to discussing areas of mutual co-operation with Vice Premier Li and Foreign Minister Yang and to marketing Ireland as a pre-eminent location for world-class goods and services.”