China, Ireland pledge closer partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for visiting Irish President Michael D. Higgins before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 9, 2014. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Irish President Michael D. Higgins Tuesday with both pledging to boost partnership between the two countries.

Recalling his visit to Ireland as vice president in 2012, Xi said China and Ireland have set a good example of friendly coexistence between countries of different national conditions, different culture and different social systems, featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual understanding on each other's development path, mutual support on major issues, and friendly cooperation.

China will continue to respect, trust, benefit, learn from and help each other with Ireland, and work with the Irish side to consolidate the mutually beneficial strategic partnership between the two counties, said the Chinese leader.

As China is advancing a strategy of innovation-driven development and speeding up urbanization and agricultural modernization, the two countries can boost cooperation in these sectors, Xi said, highlighting Ireland's advantages in information technology, medicine, life science, and agriculture and husbandry.

China encourages investment into Ireland, Xi said, looking forward to more cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Xi said China attaches importance to Ireland's special role in the European Union and stands ready to work with Ireland on building a China-EU partnership of peace, growth, reform and civilization.

Higgins said the two countries have similar views on many major issues and that Irish and Chinese people are good friends.

The Irish side appreciates China's culture and admires China for its economic and social development achievements, Higgins said.

China has seen great progress in human rights, with hundreds of millions of people lifted out of poverty.

Higgins said he is confident of China's peaceful development and that President Xi's notion of the Chinese dream is of great significance for enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between different countries, and promoting peace and development in the world.

Ireland is willing to work with China to address global challenges and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Higgins said, voicing his hope to boost cooperation with China on economy, technology, education and culture as well as increase people-to-people exchanges.

Ireland will work as a bridge between China and the European Union, he added.

After the talks, Xi and Higgins witnessed the signing of some deals between the two sides.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a red-carpet ceremony to welcome the visiting Irish president.