China vows to boost strategic partnership with Ireland

China is willing to work with Ireland to take tangible measures to implement all consensuses reached between the two countries and continuously push forward their mutually beneficial strategic partnership, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said on Monday.

China and Ireland have continuously strengthened mutual political trust, broadened trade and economic cooperation, and expanded people-to-people and cultural exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic ties 35 years ago, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said during a meeting with Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore.

Liu said China-Ireland relations are now in the best shape in history, adding that China's plan of comprehensively deepening reform had provided a new opportunity for the two countries' exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

The Chinese government encourages and supports Chinese enterprises to invest abroad with a stronger sense of responsibility and awareness of law, he said. He also voiced welcome for more Irish enterprises' investment in China.

On party-to-party exchanges, Liu said the CPC attaches importance to the Irish Labor Party's proposal for the establishment of a regular exchange mechanism.

The CPC is ready to enhance high-level reciprocal visits and exchanges among young politicians, strengthen strategic dialogue, and boost the healthy development of the two countries' relations by deepening inter-party exchanges, he said.

Gilmore, also minister for foreign affairs and trade and leader of the Labor Party, said Ireland is looking forward to expanding cooperation with China.

It is of great significance for the economic recovery of Ireland, which has unique advantages in such areas as animal husbandry, food and pharmacy, to expand trade and economic cooperation with China, he said.

He called on the two countries' relevant departments to strengthen communication and coordination to achieve more substantial results.

Gilmore said his party has maintained a sound relationship of cooperation with the CPC, adding that exchanges between the two political parties will help them deepen understanding.

The Labor Party is willing to broaden exchanges with the CPC at various levels, set up a mechanism for party-to-party exchanges, and further boost their pragmatic cooperation, he said.

Ireland is the third leg of Liu's ongoing four-nation Europe tour, which has already taken him to Denmark and Finland. He will also visit Portugal in the next few days.