Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be leading any trade missions to China in 2011; his plans to increase trade to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18645/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government attaches importance to developing our trade and bilateral links with China. The latest available data shows that Ireland has a modest trade surplus with China, a dramatic turnaround from the position as recently as in 2006, when we had a trade deficit of €2.9 billion. We will be building on the excellent bilateral relations that exist between our two countries to further enhance our trade, investment, education and tourism links with China.

The Taoiseach hopes to lead a Trade Mission to China later this year and contact is continuing, including through our Embassy in Beijing, to arrange mutually acceptable dates. The Taoiseach will, of course, be accompanied by other relevant Ministers on that Mission, in order to maximise its trade and other benefits for Ireland. The recently launched Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, entitled Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy , has identified China as a key high-growth and high-potential market for Ireland, and the local market team set up under the Strategy and chaired by our Ambassador is already active. A local market plan for China has been prepared and its implementation will be reviewed by the Export Trade Council, which I will chair, and which will hold its inaugural meeting later this month.

In recognition of the importance of our partnership with China, we have in addition to our Embassy in Beijing, a Consulate General in Shanghai which is a key commercial centre. Enterprise Ireland is co-located with both the Embassy and the Consulate General.

China is also one of the small number of countries with which Ireland has a Joint Economic Commission. The last meeting of the JEC took place in Beijing last October and provided an opportunity for intensive bilateral discussions on a range of issues that have the potential to deepen our economic engagement.