Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken formally with the Chinese ambassador to Ireland to date in 2025. [25352/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Ireland, Zhao Xiyuan , presented credentials to President Higgins on the 11th of February 2025.

On 16th February, on the occasion of a visit to Ireland by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, I hosted the Minister and his delegation - including Ambassador Zhao - for productive talks in Iveagh House.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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197. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to visit Lithuania during quarter three of 2025. [25353/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Lithuania and Ireland enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We have a shared outlook across so many areas of EU policy: on competitiveness, on trade and on solidarity with Ukraine. As we move closer to our Presidency of the Council of the European Union I look forward to even closer cooperation with Lithuania, including exchanges at all levels of government, as Lithuania forms part of our ‘Presidency Trio’ alongside Greece. I have no plans at present to visit Lithuania during quarter three of 2025. However, I regularly engage with my Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. In addition, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Sigitas Mitkus visited Ireland earlier this month. He met with my colleague, the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, T.D. They had an extensive bilateral discussion with a focus on our shared commitment to Ukraine and the importance of the EU working together across all policy areas in support of Ukraine. Ireland and Lithuania have supported, alongside the European Commission, the construction and equipping of underground school shelters in Ukraine. Ministers Byrne and Mitkus also visited Ukraine together in late April.Ireland’s Nordic Baltic Strategy to 2025 has seen a strengthening of connections with the entire region including Lithuania. As we move closer to our Presidency of the Council of the European Union I look forward to even closer cooperation with Lithuania including exchanges at all levels of government.