Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), led a delegation of his department to visit Britain, Ireland and Italy in the second half of June. His meetings in Ireland included with Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann (the presiding officer of the Senate, the upper house of the Oireachtas, or Irish parliament), Bertie Ahern, former leader of Fianna Fáil, former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, and Co-chair of the InterAction Council, and Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party and Minister for Transport, as well as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland.
Senator Buttimer said that both Ireland and China have splendid culture and art. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in areas including economy, trade, science, education, and agriculture, as well as robust people-to-people and cultural exchanges and exchanges at local levels. The friendship between Ireland and China is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Ireland, he said, speaks highly of China’s important efforts and achievements in helping the development of Africa and other developing countries.
Bertie Ahern congratulated China on its great achievements in economic and social development and in successfully lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and expressed full confidence in China’s development prospects. He said, both Ireland and China cherish respective excellent traditional culture, and attach importance to education, innovation and development.
Minister Liu responded that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Ireland relations have always maintained healthy and stable development. Despite different history, culture and social system of the two sides, they have both adhered to mutual respect, tolerated differences, continuously consolidated mutual trust, constantly expanded consensus, and carried out exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The CPC, he added, is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges and cooperation with all political parties of Ireland, exchange experience in state governance and administration, push economic and trade cooperation, and enhance non-governmental friendship.
Meeting Minister Ryan from the Green Party, Liu said that Ireland is one of the countries in the world that loves green development the most. And the Green Party of Ireland has actively contributed to the cause of domestic and global green development. Pursuing harmonious co-existence between people and nature and striving for sustainable development has become the important consensus between China and Ireland. He added that the Chinese side is willing to, together with the Irish side, adhere to mutual understanding and mutual respect, deepen cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, clean development, energy conservation, environmental protection, and addressing climate change, so as to promote the development of a China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Ryan said that he had visited China in 1987, 2010 and 2023, and was deeply impressed by China’s development achievements. China is a major energy producer and consumer, as well as a major producer of clean energy technology and equipment. The Green Party of Ireland appreciates the concept of ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’, put forward by President Xi Jinping, he noted.
The following reports were first published on the website of the IDCPC.
Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann of Ireland Meets with Liu Jianchao
Dublin, June 23rd—Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann of Ireland, met here today with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Buttimer welcomed Liu on behalf of the Oireachtas. He said, both Ireland and China have splendid culture and art. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in areas including economy, trade, science, education, and agriculture, as well as robust people-to-people and cultural exchanges and exchanges at local levels. The friendship between Ireland and China is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. The Oireachtas attaches great importance to developing relations with China and adheres to the one-China principle. Ireland speaks highly of China’s important efforts and achievements in helping the development of Africa and other developing countries. He expressed the willingness to strengthen dialogue and communication with the Chinese side, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as parliament and political parties, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Ireland and China for greater development.
Liu said, the 20th CPC National Congress charted the course for China’s development at present and for a time to come. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, adhere to the fundamental national policy of opening up, and work with all countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Liu said, China and Ireland should continue to carry out exchanges between legislatures and inter-party exchanges and cooperation, strengthen communication of concepts and policies, and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust. It is expected that the two sides will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, innovation, locality, culture, education, and people-to-people and cultural engagement, promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, strengthen exchanges and cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change. The Chinese side attaches importance to Ireland’s unique influence in the European Union, and is willing to work with the Irish side to promote the healthy development of China-EU relations.
Bertie Ahern, Former Leader of Fianna Fáil and Former Prime Minister of Ireland Meets with Liu Jianchao
Dublin, June 23rd—Bertie Ahern, former leader of Fianna Fáil, former Prime Minister of Ireland, and Co-chair of the InterAction Council, met here today with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Ahern congratulated China on the great achievements in economic and social development and in successfully lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and expressed full confidence in China’s development prospects. He said, both Ireland and China cherish respective excellent traditional culture, and attach importance to education, innovation and development. He looked forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields to benefit the two countries and the two peoples. The world today is facing a series of challenges. Only by adhering to multilateralism, developing an open world economy and strengthening international cooperation can countries jointly maintain world peace, stability and prosperity. The InterAction Council is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side and jointly contribute to solving the challenges facing mankind.
Liu spoke positively of Ahern’s important contributions to the development of China-Ireland relations and China-European Union (EU) relations during his tenure as Prime Minister. Liu also introduced the connotation of Chinese modernization and the opportunities it brings to the world, and expounded on the world significance of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
Liu said, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Ireland relations have always maintained healthy and stable development. Despite different history, culture and social system of the two sides, our two sides have adhered to mutual respect, tolerated differences, continuously consolidated mutual trust, constantly expanded consensus, and carried out exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. We are willing to further promote the stable development of China-Ireland relations and China-EU relations, and join hands to address challenges such as climate change and global public health. The CPC is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges and cooperation with all political parties of Ireland, exchange experience in state governance and administration, push economic and trade cooperation, and enhance non-governmental friendship. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the Irish side and continue to play an active role in upholding multilateralism and maintaining regional peace and stability.
Liu Jianchao Meets with Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party, Minister for Transport, and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland
Dublin, June 23rd—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party, Minister for Transport, and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland.
Liu said, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China strives to promote the green transformation of economic and social development, strives to improve the ecological environment, and strives to build a clean and beautiful world with other countries. Ireland is one of the countries in the world that loves green development the most. And the Green Party of Ireland has actively contributed to the cause of domestic and global green development. Pursuing harmonious co-existence between man and nature and striving for sustainable development has become the important consensus between China and Ireland.
Liu said, the Chinese side is willing to, together with the Irish side, adhere to mutual understanding and mutual respect, deepen cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, clean development, energy conservation, environmental protection, and addressing climate change, so as to promote the development of China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation. Ireland is an important member state of the European Union (EU). The Chinese side is willing to work with the Irish side to push for the construction of China-EU green partnership and digital partnership. The CPC is willing to deepen cooperation with the Green Party and other major political parties of Ireland, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, walk on the road of green development, and work together to protect the earth, the home of mankind.
Ryan said, I visited China in 1987, 2010 and 2023, and I was deeply impressed by China’s development achievements. China is a major energy producer and consumer, as well as a major producer of clean energy technology and equipment. The Green Party of Ireland appreciates the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” put forward by President Xi Jinping. We look forward to, together with the Chinese side, strengthening communication and exchanges, deepening practical cooperation, jointly facilitating international actions to promote energy conservation, emission reduction and address climate change, and working together to build a clean and beautiful world.
