Chinese President Xi Jinping said China wants to expand economic and trade cooperation with Ireland, presenting stronger bilateral ties as a pathway to improving relations with the European Union amid ongoing frictions between Beijing and Brussels.
Xi made the remarks on Monday during talks with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, according to a media pool report. The meeting marked the first visit by an Irish taoiseach to China in 14 years.
Opening the meeting, Xi highlighted mutual respect and “win-win outcomes” as the foundation for long-term, stable relations between China and Ireland. He described those principles as valuable lessons that could guide future cooperation, Chinese state media reported.
China has increasingly pursued engagement with individual EU member states as relations with the bloc remain tense, often using bilateral meetings to convey its broader views on Europe.
Xi told Martin that China and the EU should adopt a long-term perspective, address differences with “objectivity and rationality,” and prioritize mutually beneficial cooperation, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
“It is hoped that Ireland will play a constructive role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations,” Xi said, noting that Ireland is set to assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council later this year.
Xi said Beijing was interested in working more closely with Ireland in sectors including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, pharmaceuticals, and tourism, Xinhua reported. He also called for stronger coordination on global issues, urging cooperation to support multilateralism and what he described as international fairness.
Ireland has positioned itself as a European hub for technology and life sciences, making those sectors a natural focus of talks during Martin’s visit.
Martin, speaking during the visit, acknowledged China’s global influence and described Beijing as an “indispensable” international actor, highlighting its role in peacekeeping efforts.
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He also reaffirmed Ireland’s support for open trade, a theme expected to feature prominently in discussions with Chinese leaders.
“We believe it’s fundamental that we work toward open trade, recognizing the interdependence of the world,” Martin said when referring to Ireland’s economic relationship with China.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment for trade ties. Two weeks earlier, China announced provisional tariffs of up to 42.7% on EU dairy products, a move widely viewed as retaliation for European Union tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Ireland, one of Europe’s largest dairy exporters, ships more than 90% of its dairy output abroad, with exports valued at roughly €6 billion ($7.02 billion) annually. The country was among EU member states that voted in favor of imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
