Taoiseach meets Chinese Premier

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing today to promote closer trade ties between the two countries.

Mr Ahern arrived in China yesterday for a six-day visit accompanied by a delegation of nearly 200 business leaders.

The group was the “biggest trade delegation ever to leave Ireland to go anywhere,” Mr Ahern told Mr Wen during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People.

He said that Ireland wants to forge closer trade ties with China and other Asian countries in an effort to expand beyond its traditional markets of the United States and Europe.

Some 40 agreements and contracts are expected to be signed during the trip, Mr Wen said.