On the morning of January 5, 2026, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin, who is on an official visit to China.‌

President Xi Jinping noted that both China and Ireland are peace-loving, open, inclusive, self-reliant and enterprising. The two countries achieved independence and national liberation through the struggle of the people, and have advanced toward modernization with the hard work of one generation after another. Since establishing the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation in 2012, the two countries have seen bilateral trade quadruple, two-way investment grow in a balanced manner, and mutual goodwill between the two peoples as they work to make their countries better. Mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are valuable experience gathered from long-term steady development of China-Ireland relations. The two sides should jointly pass them down and carry them forward. China is ready to work with Ireland to strengthen strategic communication, deepen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation, to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and provide more impetus for China-Europe relations.‌

President Xi Jinping underlined the need for China and Ireland to maintain friendly exchanges at multiple levels and in different fields, continuously enhance communication and understanding, accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns, cement political mutual trust, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. Over the next five years, China will continue to promote high-quality development and expand high-standard opening-up. China stands ready to work with Ireland to step up economic and trade cooperation, seek synergy of development strategies in such areas as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and pharmaceuticals and health, and encourage two-way investment, so as to draw on each other’s strengths, share opportunities, and pursue common development. The two sides need to strengthen cooperation in education, culture and tourism, and foster closer people-to-people bonds. China welcomes more Irish youth to come to China for study and exchanges.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that the world today is undergoing changes and turbulence. Unilateral and bullying acts are dealing a serious blow to the international order. All countries should respect other countries’ development paths chosen independently by their people, and observe international law and the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. Major countries, in particular, should lead by example. Both China and Ireland support multilateralism and advocate international fairness and justice. The two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs, jointly uphold the authority of the U.N., and work for a more just and equitable global governance system. China and the EU should keep a long-term perspective, stay committed to working together as partners, view and handle differences in an objective and rational way, and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation. Ireland will hold the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year. It is hoped that Ireland will play a constructive role for the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations. 

Taoiseach Martin noted that Ireland and China enjoy a deep and long-standing friendship, and that economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have strengthened enormously. President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to Ireland in 2012, laying a solid foundation for the growth of the Ireland-China strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation in recent years. It is admirable that China has effectively formulated and implemented long-term national development strategies and produced major achievements. Ireland unequivocally subscribes to the one-China policy and is committed to strengthening and growing the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Ireland stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in such areas as trade, investment, science and technology, biomedicine, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and education. China plays an indispensable role in international affairs, and has made positive contributions to upholding the authority of the U.N. and promoting world peace. All international disputes should be settled in accordance with international law. Ireland would like to maintain close communication and coordination with China to safeguard international law, uphold free and open trade, and promote world prosperity and stability. It is important for EU-China relations to maintain steady growth. Ireland is ready to play a constructive role for the sound development of EU-China relations.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.