Nice doing business with you, China tells North

China is eager to learn from Northern Ireland’s business community and work in partnership with it, a senior Chinese government official told a trade delegation from the North.

Zhang Xiang, deputy minister at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation in Beijing told Northern Ireland Economy Minister Reg Empey there were many opportunities for businesses from the North as China’s market opened up more to the Western world.

‘‘Not long ago China became a full member of the World Trade Organisation,’’ he said.

‘‘China and Great Britain are enjoying record trade.

‘‘China is very interested in high technology products made by Great Britain. I firmly believe that trade and economic relations between China and Great Britain as well as China and Northern Ireland are going to enjoy further development.’’

Mr Xiang also told the minister and officials from the Industrial Development Board trade mission that China was now the sixth largest economy in the world, overtaking Italy.

Its GDP was now 1 trillion and the country had recently embarked on another five year development period.

Despite the global recession, he said: ‘‘Our exchange rate remains stable.

‘‘When dealing in economic affairs China has paid a lot of attention to three elements - stability, development and reform.

‘‘Stability is fundamental to any successful economy, development is the driving force and reform is the basic objective.’’

Mr Empey told the deputy minister Northern Ireland firms were keen to share experience and work alongside their Chinese counterparts as their economy opened up to the rest of the world.

He noted several Northern Ireland firms had already had a number of successes.

Delta Packaging in West Belfast had established a plant in China with the Huabei Delta Print and Packaging Company after signing a joint venture agreement in August 1998 with the top packaging company of Tangshan.

‘‘As a small region we are very anxious to build partnerships and to find companies in China with which we can build up trade and build up business relationships,’’ the Ulster Unionist minister said.

‘‘We believe this is a very exciting time for China now you have joined the World Trade Organisation.

‘‘There are opportunities there for us both, with our companies working with your companies for our mutual benefit.’’

Mr Empey and his delegation also met the deputy mayor of Beijing, Zhang Mao where he was briefed on the city’s plans for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The deputy mayor wished Belfast well in its bid to become European City of Culture in the same year.