Kenny to ink new Ireland-China partnership agreement

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will today sign a new partnership agreement pledging to strengthen ties between Ireland and China.

Speaking in Beijing on the conclusion of his four-day trade mission, Mr Kenny said the ties between Ireland and China show that differences in size are no barrier to a warm and deep relationship.

The strategic partnership agreement being signed today paves the way for Ireland and China to do more business together.

It comes on the the back of a pact signed yesterday between the NTMA and a Chinese soverign wealth fund which could see billions of euro in Chinese money being pumped into the Irish economy.

Speaking at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Mr Kenny said relations between Ireland and China are stronger than ever.

"The positive development of our bilateral relationship underlines that geographical distance, and difference in size, are no barriers to the development of a warm, friendly and deep relationship," he said.