Micheál Martin first taoiseach in 14 years to meet China's leader 

Taoiseach arrived in Beijing on Sunday ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping on Monday

President Xi Jinping will meet Micheál Martin today, Monday, after Ireland's Taoiseach arrived in Bejing on Sunday. Picture: AP

Micheál Martin will become the first taoiseach for 14 years to meet a Chinese president when he sits down with Xi Jinping in Beijing today, Monday, seeking to strengthen economic and political ties between the two nations.

Mr Martin arrived in the capital of China on Sunday ahead of his meeting with Mr Xi on Monday.

He will also meet with Premier Li Qiang, and the chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, later this week.

Mr Martin said he is “very much looking forward to deepening the political, cultural, and economic connections between our two countries”.

The Taoiseach will engage with Irish and Chinese business leaders and investors in financial services and the food and beverages sector. He will also meet with representatives of twelve Irish colleges and their Chinese education partners.

Mr Martin will travel to Shanghai on Tuesday to meet with Mayor Gong Zheng. Ahead of Monday’s meetings, Mr Martin said: 

I will stress the importance of a strong EU-China relationship, as well as robust and effective multilateral institutions. 

“I also look forward to meeting Chinese and Irish businesspeople to explore the opportunities that exist for both Irish and Chinese investors and exporters.”

China’s Foreign Ministry said that the relationship between the two countries “has enjoyed robust development”.

“Our two sides have always treated each other with mutual respect and equality.

“China stands ready to work with Ireland to enhance political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and provide new impetus for the two sides to pursue high-quality development and sound and steady advancement of China-EU relations in the new era.”

Human rights

Mr Martin did not say if he plans to raise China’s human rights record, as has been called for by one of his own TDs.

Wicklow–Wexford Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne had said on Sunday that Mr Martin should raise the case of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.

Mr Lai, 77, was arrested in 2020 under a national security law imposed by Beijing following anti-government protests in 2019.

He is being tried on charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications.

Mr Lai founded Apple Daily, one of the local media outlets that was most critical of Hong Kong’s government.