Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Premier Li Qiang visited Ireland on 16 and 17 January, at the request of the Chinese authorities. The premier paid a courtesy call on President Higgins before being welcomed by the Taoiseach at Farmleigh House for a bilateral meeting and a lunch, which was also attended by a number of Ministers, including myself.

Meetings covered a range of topics including bilateral relations, human rights, European Union-China relations, multilateral engagement and regional and international issues. Premier Li expressed interest in growing relations, including in trade, green low-carbon development and sustainable agriculture. He announced the resumption of beef exports to China and a 15 day visa waiver to Irish passport holders travelling to China.

The Taoiseach communicated Ireland’s priorities for our relationship with China and recalled the values which underpin our engagement, including the global multilateral system. He welcomed the recent European Union-China Summit and set out the European Union, and Ireland's, desire for a balanced, reciprocal trade relationship with China and a level playing field for Irish and EU businesses. The Taoiseach made clear that derisking is not decoupling.

The Taoiseach and President Higgins set out Ireland's long-held concerns around human rights. The Taoiseach raised concerns about the treatment of minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang, the national security law in Hong Kong and the case of Jimmy Lai. The Taoiseach also raised Russia's war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. A discussion on climate took place with agreement on the need to work in partnership to face this global challenge.

Ireland will continue to raise human rights concerns in our bilateral engagement with China as well as at multilateral forums. Earlier this week, Ireland delivered a statement at the Universal Periodic Review of China at the UN Human Rights Council, which focused on repression of civil society and freedom of expression, including in Hong Kong, the treatment of ethnic groups in Tibet and Xinjiang, and LGBTQI+ rights.

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