Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
249. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he met his Chinese counterpart during his recent visit to China for St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12562/24]
View answerOn the final day of my visit to China I met with the Minister for Finance of the People's Republic of China, Mr Lan Foan, in the Ministry of Finance in Beijing.
The meeting, which lasted for ninety minutes, provided an important opportunity to discuss the bilateral trade between Ireland and China, and the political and diplomatic relationship between our two countries. We also discussed the economic outlook for both our countries, and the sectors with opportunities for growth in the China-Ireland trade relationship over the coming years.
In 2022, the value of two way trade in goods and services between Ireland and China amounted to approx. €45 billion. With a population of 1.4 billion and the world's second largest economy, the Chinese market offers much potential as an export opportunity for Irish businesses. We also discussed the wider geopolitical situation including the war in Ukraine, the appalling situation in Gaza, EU-China relations, as well as human rights. I outlined the position of the Irish government on all these matters.
Overall, it was a positive meeting with an open exchange of views on important issues of mutual interest and I look forward to further engagements in the future.
