Opportunities ahead thanks to history of mutual respect and understanding

Underlying their shared spirit of cooperation, China and Ireland are collaborating on trade, economy, education and culture in a burgeoning partnership that reflects a mutual commitment to enhance understanding and economic prosperity.

With this year marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland, the two countries are solidifying strategic ties with frequent interactions at all levels, including on investment, green development and education.

During an official visit to Ireland's capital Dublin on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House. Li noted that over the past 45 years, China and Ireland have adhered to mutual respect and treated each other as equals, setting an exemplary standard of friendly coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different histories, cultures and political systems.

The premier said it is essential to continuously expand the scale of trade and strengthen cooperation in green and low-carbon development, sustainable agriculture and finance while exploring innovative collaborations in the digital economy, biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence. Li also stated that to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, China will unilaterally grant visa-free status to Ireland.

Varadkar said Ireland applauds China's tremendous achievements in economic and social development and sees it as an important partner as both countries consistently demonstrate mutual respect and trust. He stated Ireland is willing to expand bilateral investments with China, enhance cooperation in agriculture, innovation and green development, and deepen exchanges in education and culture. Ireland is also open to providing more convenience for Chinese visitors and welcomes more Chinese businesses to invest and operate in the country, he added.

Over the years, China and Ireland have witnessed a notable uptick in bilateral trade, with both countries seeking avenues for increased economic cooperation. Statistics from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland show that the total goods trade between the two countries in 2022 was $26.6 billion, reflecting a notable year-on-year growth of 23.6 percent. Specifically, China's exports to Ireland amounted to $12.9 billion, witnessing a substantial increase of 55.3 percent compared to 2021, while China's imports from Ireland totaled $13.7 billion, up 3.7 percent year-on-year.

In a Dec 8 article titled Belt and Road Initiative Injects New Impetus into China-Ireland and China-EU Cooperation, published on the daily Irish Examiner newspaper, He Xiangdong, China's ambassador to Ireland, noted that China is Ireland's largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, and because the two countries have complementary economic structures they could leverage their respective strengths in economic cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The BRI's rapid development has created great demand for high-quality capital and funds, wrote He, adding: "Looking ahead, financial cooperation under the framework of the BRI, as an important new growth point for China-Ireland business cooperation, will unleash its huge potential and embrace a promising future."

Currently, nearly 50,000 Chinese are studying or working in Ireland, while the number of Irish citizens studying or working in China is increasing year after year. There are currently seven twinning relations between Chinese and Irish cities, and friendly exchanges and cooperation between both local governments have become more active.

Ambassador He noted the BRI could also provide more chances of cultural exchanges in various fields. For instance, the Silk Road Scholarship Program could expand the scale of exchange students between the two countries, providing a new way for Irish people to get to know China.

At the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services held in Beijing in September, Ann Derwin, Ireland's ambassador to China, said that as a member of the European Union, Ireland has robust service sectors, and the vast market and strong consumer demand in China present business opportunities for Irish companies. For example, as a globally recognized agricultural powerhouse, Ireland's agri-food products are exported to over 180 countries and regions worldwide.

"Ireland is a world leader in sustainable production, and our food production is among the most sustainable globally. I believe that green energy and green technology are areas where Ireland and China can collaborate, and we are very interested in this," Derwin said.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn