TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN is set to travel to China on an official visit later today. 

Martin will visit trade and Government officials in Beijing and Shanghai.

The Taoiseach’s programme in Beijing will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji.

A statement from the Department of the Taoiseach said these meetings, he will discuss Ireland’s bilateral relationship with China, including our important economic and trading relationship; EU-China relations; and shared global challenges.

The Department said that “at a time of global turbulence, he will emphasise the importance of effective multilateral institutions to promote peace and security, and to ensure a fair trading environment”.

At Christmas, in an interview with The Journal, the Taoiseach pushed back on statements by a senior Irish Defence Forces officers who claimed China is a hostile state towards Ireland. 

An officer in IMIS was quoted in a Sunday newspaper defining China as a “hostile state actor” the Irish military has a “concern about”. There was also criticism reported by the military officer of educating Chinese nationals in Irish universities.

On the visit the Taoiseach will engage with Irish and Chinese business leaders and investors, across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, further and higher education, and food and beverages. During the visit, he will meet with representatives of twelve Irish colleges and their Chinese higher education partners.

In Shanghai, the Taoiseach will meet with Mayor Gong Zheng. He will also engage with a range of business leaders, focussing on trade, investment, tourism, and food and beverages.

Ahead of the visit the Taoiseach said he was “very much” looking forward to the visit and the chance to deepen the “political, cultural, and economic connections between our two countries”.

“I look forward to engaging with President Xi, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao of the National People’s Congress. In addition to discussing the broad relationship between Ireland and China, we will exchange views on pressing global challenges including peace and security and the trading environment.

“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.

“In Beijing, there will be a particular focus on further and higher education – an important area with a lot of potential for both partners, and where cooperation will yield longer-term dividends in terms of research and innovation, and people-to-people links,” he said. 

The visit is the first by a Taoiseach since 2012. Martin, while Minister for Foreign Affairs, last visited Beijing and Shanghai in November 2023, meeting Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng.

Figures from the Government state that China is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Asia and our fifth largest trading partner globally.

Total trade in goods and services between Ireland and China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) was €36 billion in 2023 (last year for which full figures are available).
China is Ireland’s 6th largest goods export market and our 8th largest services export market.

Ireland’s exports to China are driven by medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and computer services as well as agri-food and, increasingly, financial services.
Irish companies support around 5,000 jobs in China.

30 IDA client companies from China employ over 5,000 people at 36 operations in Ireland.

China ranked 6th among destinations for Irish agri-food exports in 2024, with exports of €613 million, i.e. 3% of agri-food exports by value.