Ireland will be putting its best foot forward at this year's China International Import Expo. The island nation is hoping to boost its exports of beef to China, and in a nation increasingly hungry for red meat, there's a good chance they'll find some eager buyers. CGTN's Zhang He has this report from Ireland.

Ireland is one of the biggest net exporters of beef in the world. However, Irish beef had been absent from the Chinese market for nearly 18 years. The result of an outbreak of mad cow disease in Europe. So when China recently reopened its doors to the meaty import, Irish beef producers had cause for celebration.

ZHANG HE CLONES, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND "Last year, Ireland produced 580,000 tons of beef and 90 percent was exported. With Brexit looming, expanding international market has been extremely important for the country."

ABP Food Group is the first Irish beef processor to secure a contract in China, supplying Chinese restaurant chain Wowprime. It also launched a range of beef products on JD.com, one of China's largest online retailers.

MARK GOODMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR, ABP INTERNATIONAL "As of today, Ireland has six factories approved to export to China. At the moment, the Irish government is working with the Chinese government to put forward more factories to be approved later this year. With markets like China coming on stream it is a massive help to reduce the risk of the impact of Brexit in Irish beef industry and Irish farmers."

Beef is China's fastest-growing category of meat consumption, but supplies are unlikely to keep up with demand. The country is now the world's second largest beef importer, just behind the United States.

TARA MCCARTHYCHIEF EXECUTIVE, BORD BIA "We believe that the growth in China is hundred and thousands tons of beef. We are looking obvious for percentage in Europe because the natural growth in the Chinese market is significant towards beef as consumers are increasing more and their income increase continuously. And what we are seeing now is an opportunity for European beef as Ireland was one of the first European beef exporters to have an opportunity in China."

For Irish beef processors, China's International Import Expo in Shanghai is a golden opportunity. There, they'll present the case for their beef sector to over 150,000 Chinese buyers. The aim is to expand their country's beef exports, even further.

MICHAEL CREEDIRISH MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE "In a very short period of time, the Chinese market has become the target market for Irish agriculture and food exports. I suppose the potential of the Chinese market is probably to replicate in the area of beef what we already achieved. In dairy and pig meat, for example, we exported a billion euros produce to China. It is our second biggest market for dairy. It is our second biggest market for pig meat. I think it has the potential to become a very very significant market for us also for beef."

As a country that depends heavily on international trade, Ireland is constantly looking for new market opportunities. Officials and businesses here say they are enthusiastic about the potential that China has to offer. Zhang He CGTN Dublin.