Written Answers. - Ministerial Travel.
Michael Bell
Question:
16
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to China; if he raised the issue of human rights with the Chinese authorities; and the response he received in this regard.
[3757/02]
The focus of my first official visit to the People's Republic of China on 22 to 25 January was on strengthening our bilateral relations, in keeping with the Asia strategy, launched after the visit by the Taoiseach to China in September 1998.
I met with senior Chinese leaders, including Premier of the State Council, Zhu Rongji, and Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan. I conducted a meeting with the heads of Irish diplomatic missions resident in Asia and with the representatives of the semi-State agencies and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. These were the first such joint meetings and we focused on evaluating the implementation of the Government's Asia strategy and on making recommendations for strengthening and improving the effectiveness of the Government's promotional efforts in the region.
My meeting with Premier Zhu and Foreign Minister Tang focused on international and regional political issues, our shared membership of the UN Security Council, human rights and issues of bilateral economic co-operation.
I had a very productive discussion with Foreign Minister Tang on the issue of human rights. I raised a number of areas of concern in relation to human rights with him, in an open and frank way, and Minister Tang responded in kind.
I emphasised the importance which the Government attaches to the respect of human rights. I highlighted, in particular, the level of concern in Ireland in relation to Tibet. I strongly encouraged the Chinese authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the issues of concern.
I also raised the case of Trinity student, Mr. Zhao Ming, which the Taoiseach had previously raised in his meeting with Premier Zhu in September of last year. I was informed that Mr. Zhao would be released on 12 March and that he would, at that stage, be eligible to apply for an exit visa. I was assured that there was no physical ill-treatment of him during his period of detention and that he received regular medical check-ups.
In the course of my discussion with Minister Tang, I also highlighted the positive elements of our relationship with China in the human rights area. I noted, for example, that the Centre for Human Rights in Galway will be working in partnership with the Law Institute in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences over the next two years in the EU-China human rights network.
I also took note of encouraging developments in relation to human rights within China, such as the renewal of the UN's programme of technical assistance to China in the field of human rights.
Overall, my trip was a highly successful one which, I feel, contributed to raising Ireland's profile in the region and I look forward to further deepening Ireland's relations with Asia.
