On November 12, Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, co-chaired the 14th Meeting of the China-Ireland Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Dublin with Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of Ireland.

Ling Ji stated that, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China and Ireland, the two countries have continuously strengthened their mutually beneficial strategic partnership. Bilateral trade in goods and services has advanced in tandem, two-way investment has developed in a balanced manner, and both sides support free trade and the multilateral trading system. He noted that the economies of China and Ireland are highly complementary, and expressed China’s readiness to enhance alignment of development strategies with Ireland and deepen cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, green energy, biopharmaceuticals, scientific and technological innovation, and financial services, thereby fostering new growth drivers for economic and trade cooperation. During China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will further open up its services sector, offering Irish enterprises broader opportunities to invest in China.

Burke emphasized that Ireland and China have long cultivated a mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade relationship. He highlighted that China is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Asia and that China’s economic growth continues to provide certainty to global economic growth. Noting that Ireland is a highly open and free economy, he welcomed Chinese companies and financial institutions to invest in Ireland and engage in joint research and innovation, for better integration into global value chains.