Chinese premier meets with President Higgins and Taoiseach as part of State visit 

President Higgins meets Premier Li Qiang. Picture: Maxwells

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has met with President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as part of his two-day State visit to Ireland.

Mr Li arrived into the country on Tuesday night, landing into Dublin Airport just after 8pm aboard the Chinese state aircraft. The Boeing 747 Max 8 is the largest commercial aircraft to ever land in the airport.

He was greeted upon arrival by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and the Irish Ambassador to China Ann Derwin.

There is a significant Garda operation to facilitate the visit of the prime minister of the People’s Republic of China.

The trip by Mr Li is the first high-level visit by a Chinese government official since 2015, when his predecessor Li Keqiang arrived in Ireland. Current Chinese president Xi Jinping held a State visit to Ireland during his time as vice-president in 2012.

President Higgins and Premier Li Qiang at their meeting in Áras an Uachtaráin. Picture: Maxwells

Mr Li arrived in Phoenix Park — which has been closed to facilitate the visit — at about 9.20am, travelling by motorcade towards the Áras where he was greeted by secretary-general to the President Orla O’Hanrahan.

Mr Li then met with President Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins, before introductions were made between the two delegations.

President Higgins wished Mr Li a “cead mile fáilte” upon his arrival at Áras an Uachtaráin, while also raising issues around climate change, global poverty, food security and global conflict.

Alongside those issues, President Higgins also raised human rights, particularly in light of the UN’s Universal periodic review – which calls on every UN member state to peer review its human rights records every four and a half years.

Mr Li told President Higgins that he is a “seasoned political leader”, with the President mentioning his visit to China in 2014 where he met with President Xi. In particular, Mr Li said that there was a “frank meeting” between the two presidents, but that they reached a “common understanding on a wide range of issues”.

“Over the years our results-oriented cooperation has made steady progress and produced rich foods. Our relations have set a good example of mutually beneficial cooperation between countries that are different in political systems, cultural divisions, and geographic size,” Mr Li added.

At Farmleigh House, Mr Li was greeted by the Taoiseach at the entrance to the main courtyard, before walking and inspecting the 12th Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces.

The two are set to take part in a tête-à-tête meeting, before a wider bilateral meeting takes place between the two delegations.

Following the bilateral, the Chinese delegation and several Government ministers are due to take part in a working lunch, with speeches expected from both Mr Li and Mr Varadkar.

Speaking before the visit on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar described China as an “important political and economic power” in the world, adding it was necessary for Ireland to have good relations with the State.

However, he said there were questions that needed to be discussed between the two leaders, but the Taoiseach did not elaborate on the issues he plans to raise with Mr Li.