Wang Yi urges Ireland to continue to play positive role in promoting China-EU relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met Micheal Martin, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Ireland, in Beijing. During the talk, he expressed the hope that Ireland will continue to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU ties.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said as two major global forces, markets and civilizations, China and the EU need cooperation more than competition.

There are far more opportunities than challenges, Wang said, calling on the two sides to adhere to the principles of mutual respect, dialogue on an equal footing and win-win cooperation.

China appreciates the Irish side viewing China's development objectively and rationally and is willing to work with Ireland to further strengthen the political foundation of mutual respect and equal treatment, the senior Chinese diplomat added.

He also called for promoting open, pragmatic and complementary cooperation, sharing new opportunities for high-quality development and high-level opening-up and pushing China-Ireland mutually beneficial strategic partnerships to a higher level.

China is ready to work with Ireland to uphold the UN's central role, improve the system of global governance and jointly address global challenges, Wang said.

The one-China policy is the clear position of successive Irish governments, Martin told Wang.

Ireland admires China's development achievements, appreciates China's leading role in global governance and is willing to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Ireland and China, he said.

Stressing that open and free trade and the stability of the supply chain are of paramount importance, Martin said Ireland opposes protectionism, supports multilateralism and supports exploring the synergy between the EU's Global Gateway Initiative and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern.