China–Ireland relations

Summary

China–Ireland relations are interstate relations of China and Ireland. Ireland and China first established their bilateral foreign relations after they signed the Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on 22 June 1979. This milestone opened the gate for trades, businesses, politics, education, and tourism between the two countries; both nations have gained enormous growth of economic values. Both countries exchanged ambassadors in 1980. Ireland has an embassy in Beijing, a general consulate in Shanghai and an honorary consulate in Hong Kong; China has an embassy in Dublin. The first historical meeting for the two headers of China and Ireland governments took place in November 1996 when Premier Li Peng met with Taoiseach John Bruton at the World Food Summit. By 2019, this bilateral relationship has boomed to a high point, and a ceremony of their 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations was held in Dublin, Ireland in June 2019. More recently, the Ireland Sino Institute has been strengthening Ireland-China relations through various initiatives. During Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin's visit to China in November 2023, there was a notable exchange between the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ireland Sino Institute delegation at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai. Representatives from the Ireland Sino Institute, who had overcome blizzard conditions, discussed how their non-profit rural initiatives in Liaoning were fostering stronger ties between Ireland and China. They emphasized the role of the Ireland Sino Institute in representing both the Irish in China and Ireland in China.