Kenny: Deal to end Chinese ban on Irish beef could be near
Speaking after talks with the country’s expected next leader Xi Jinping, Enda Kenny said a deal to boost Irish agricultural goods to the booming Chinese market was possible in the longer term.
China banned Irish and EU beef after the health scares at the turn of the century, but Mr Kenny said the vice-president made it clear he was ready to be more flexible in this area.
“China expressed a clear willingness to start that process by having scientific experts analyse Ireland’s standings now. I think you will recall we had this before in terms of entry into Egypt and it’s strictly on scientific evidence that this process moves forward.
“I must say that I found the meeting very rewarding and the vice-president himself said that from his experience first hand in Ireland he now wants to move on to strengthening those relationships,” said Mr Kenny.
Mr Xi spoke of his “pleasant memories” of his trip to Ireland last month as he welcomed the Taoiseach to Beijing with a formal dinner at the state guesthouse.
Mr Kenny is taking part in a four-day trade mission to China accompanied by about 90 Irish organisations keen to tap the booming market there. Before flying to the capital, Mr Kenny held a business breakfast summit in the financial capital, Shanghai. At a meeting with the mayor of the city of 23m people, Mr Kenny remarked on the close ties brought by the city being twinned with Cork. “A series of ministerial visits will take place in the time ahead to improve on these relations.
“I want a demonstration that we are a people to be trusted in doing business in a place like China. Patience is required here, it is not a case of getting a big success overnight, it is a case of demonstrating that you want to do business with them and following through on that,” he said.
Mr Kenny said the Irish presidency of the EU next year would give the country a key edge and unique international profile which would be attractive to Chinese investors and allow Dublin greater influence within Europe to push its agenda.
Mr Kenny will visit the Forbidden City in Beijing today and has promised he will raise the matter of human rights abuses in China.
The Taoiseach sees education, innovation, and agriculture as particular strong points for Irish penetration of the Chinese market.
