Taoiseach and Tánaiste to meet Chinese foreign minister in Dublin for bilateral meetings

Tánaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheál Martin  Picture: Mr Harris said Monday's discussions would centre around 'priorities for our relationship with China and Ireland’s policy objectives, both in areas where we agree and have shared interests and in areas where our perspectives differ'.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste will today meet Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Dublin. 

The visit, the Government has said, is taking place at the request of the Chinese government.

During his time in Ireland, Foreign Minister Wang will have a bilateral meetings with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to "discuss Ireland’s bilateral relationship with China and broader EU-China relations, as well as exchanging views on foreign policy issues and global challenges".

China is Ireland’s largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region with total trade in 2023 amounting to €36 billion. Irish goods exports to China have increased by 529% in the decade since 2013.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach said he was looking forward to welcoming Minister Wang Yi to Government Buildings. 

"Building on the visit of Premier Li Qiang last year, the meeting offers another opportunity to discuss strengthening relations between Ireland and China as well as global issues."

Mr Martin said that China is now Ireland's largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific region "by some margin".

“Ireland wants to grow these ties sustainably, based on fair competition, across a wide range of sectors, including in the area of agri-food," he said.

Mr Harris said Monday's discussions would centre around "priorities for our relationship with China and Ireland’s policy objectives, both in areas where we agree and have shared interests and in areas where our perspectives differ".

"Ireland and the EU more broadly, have a comprehensive economic relationship with China, one that we seek to maintain, on the basis of a balanced, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial relationship," he added.

We also have many global issues to discuss including climate change, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. 

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has an important contribution to uphold the central role of the UN system.

“I look forward to further examining these ties with Foreign Minister Wang Yi."

The Chinese minister's visit comes against a backdrop of an emergency European summit on American plans for peace in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron will today host European defence powers for a discussion on US President Donald Trump's plan to begin peace talks without either the EU or Ukraine invited.