Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My recent visit to China was very successful and, arising from it, there are a number of opportunities to deepen the artistic and cultural exchanges between Ireland and China, with a view to also enhancing commercial and trade opportunities between the two countries. During my visit to Beijing I had official talks with the Chinese Culture Minister, Cai Wu; met the leaders of some of China’s most important cultural institutions, including the National Library, the Palace Museum and the National Centre for the Performing Arts; and met a gathering of high level business contacts. I also had engagement with a range of practitioners in the cultural sector, discussed Ireland’s Presidency priorities with the EU delegation and visited the Beijing-Dublin International College, the new joint campus of UCD and Beijing University of Technology.

During the official engagement with Minister for Culture Cai I discussed his wish to extend the memorandum of understanding on cultural exchange and co-operation between Ireland and China when it expires at the end of this year. In the context of a new memorandum of understanding, I also expressed the hope to him that 2014 would be designated a year of Irish culture in China, with a number of cultural events taking place to mark this designation. On my return, I asked my Department to put together the outline of such a programme, in consultation with our embassy in Beijing and consulate general in Shanghai.

Minister Cai raised with me the possibility of China establishing a cultural centre in Ireland. China now has ten such cultural centres overseas and the total number will grow to 50 over time. I also discussed the subject of EU-China relations in the cultural sector with Minister Cai who believes Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union presents an opportunity to deepen cultural relations between China and the Union and I have agreed, as chair of the Council of Cultural Ministers, to raise this matter at the May meeting of the Council.

In other engagements, during my meeting with the vice president of the Palace Museum, I discussed the potential for enhanced co-operation between the Palace Museum and the Chester Beatty Library which has a world class collection of oriental books and artefacts. I also discussed the upcoming visit to China by the Royal Irish Academy of Music with the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

I attended a reception for approximately 200 high-level business contacts, co-sponsored by IDA Ireland and A&L Goodbody and sourced through the Goodbody Chinese law firm network which was launched by the Taoiseach last March. This included a 60 minute private performance by the Riverdance cast, a show which is extremely popular in China. I used the opportunity to highlight to this group Ireland’s economic recovery and attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment.

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