A resounding success - Relations with China

As President Michael D Higgins returns home today after his week-long State visit to China, it has to be acknowledged that it was a resounding success. 

The fact that the invitation came from President Xi Jinping has put Ireland squarely on the Chinese map of the world. It is no exaggeration to say that other nations would be jealous of the political edge gained by the Irish mission in terms of opening doors to China’s vast market of 1.3bn people.

With the Chinese leader already accepting an invitation from President Higgins to pay a State visit to Ireland, there can be no doubt relations between the countries have been further improved. As President Higgins put it, his visit will “accelerate action in certain areas”, especially by increasing food and other exports to China, strengthening business and educational links, a process which began during his visit, and by bringing droves of wealthy Chinese tourists here.

While the highly sensitive question of human rights continues to be a no-go area in the jaundiced eyes of Chinese politicians, you can be sure Xi was well aware of the concerns President Higgins has regularly voiced in the face of international violations of people’s civil liberties. The Chinese visit was his fourth major one abroad this year and continues a conversation between the two men which began in Ireland. Once again, the statesmanship with which he represents the Irish people has shone through and deserves to be applauded.