Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach has just returned to Ireland after his first official visit to China. During the visit, the Taoiseach and Premier Wen Jiabao released a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership for mutually beneficial co-operation between Ireland and China. This new strategic partnership will facilitate practical, effective and result-oriented co-operation so as to further develop the bilateral relationship. It covers several important sectors, including education, tourism, agriculture and food as well as science and technology. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and underlined the leading role of such exchanges for the development of bilateral relations.

The strategic partnership, which is a major step forward in bilateral relations, provides for a strengthened political and economic dialogue between China and Ireland and promotes closer consultation and co-operation between my Department and its Chinese counterpart. The strategic partnership reaffirms the commitment of Ireland and China to respecting and safeguarding human rights. As indicated in the joint statement, Ireland and China will conduct exchanges of expertise in governance and rule of law on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

We hope that, as China develops, it will be possible for further progress to be made in ensuring that individual rights are enjoyed by all of China's citizens. We will continue to address these matters in a frequent and regular dialogue, including the EU human rights dialogue and also bilaterally, in a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.

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