Premier Li: China, Ireland should work together to uphold free and open trade

China and Ireland should work together to uphold a free and open international trading system and maintain the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday.

Li made the call while meeting with Irish President Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of the Irish president.

Though China and Ireland are geographically apart with different national conditions, they have enjoyed enduring friendship as well as highly compatible development concepts, Li noted.

China stands ready to work with Ireland to adhere to mutual respect and equality and take the opportunity of the 45th anniversary of China-Ireland diplomatic ties this year to further implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, continuously enhance mutual understanding and trust, fully accommodate each other's major interests and core concerns, continuously advance the level and boost the effects of cooperation in various fields, and push for greater development of the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said.

The Chinese premier also pointed out that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ireland is promising.

Li said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Ireland in such fields as economy, trade and investment, green development, as well as scientific and technological innovation.

He also pledged to strengthen people-to-people exchanges in education, culture and other fields to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.

Both sides should work together to uphold a free and open international trading system and maintain the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, Li noted.

He said that both sides should practice genuine multilateralism, bridge differences through dialogue and resolve disputes through cooperation so as to push for better global governance, promote common development and inject greater stability and energy into a world rocked by changes and chaos.

For his part, Higgins said that Ireland-China relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, and both sides have always adhered to mutual understanding and respect.

Ireland is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with China, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly cope with global issues including climate change, food security and sustainable development, he said.

Ireland will also work with China to deepen exchanges between the two peoples and push for continuous and in-depth growth of Ireland-China relations, the Irish president added.

(With input from Xinhua)