On July 21, Consul General Li Nan published a signed article titled “A Fruitful Decade Marks a New phase of China-NI Relationship” in the Northern Ireland mainstream media the Irish News, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast. The full text is as follows:

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Belfast. Ten years ago, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Northern Ireland and together with then Deputy Minister Martin McGuinness and Finance Minister Arlene Foster, witnessed the inauguration of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast. This historic moment has been forever etched into the long chronicle of China-UK relations. Since then, the relationship between China and Northern Ireland has entered a new chapter.

Over the past decade, from sincere mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation to strong people-to-people exchanges, the Consulate General has worked hand in hand with all sectors of NI society to continuously elevate local exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK. Together, we have gained remarkable achievements on the path of mutually beneficial and friendly collaboration.

1. A Decade of Solidarity and Mutual Trust: Building a Strong Foundation of Friendship

China and Northern Ireland have always been good friends and reliable partners. Both sides have consistently respected each other’s core interests and major concerns, with friendly relations and mutual trust forming the main theme of the exchanges and cooperation.

In 2012, then Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong visited Northern Ireland, met with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and personally advanced the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast and the Northern Ireland Bureau in China.

In recent years, H.E. Zheng Zeguang, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, has visited Northern Ireland twice, meeting with the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister, the Speaker of the Assembly, and representatives from various sectors. He also attended China–UK/NI forums on new energy and education in 2023 and 2024 respectively, promoting the deepening of practical bilateral cooperation. In 2024, H.E. Qibatu, Vice Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, visited Northern Ireland to explore opportunities for expanding agricultural cooperation. In 2025, H.E. Wu Yan, Vice Minister of Education of China, led a delegation to Northern Ireland and held in-depth discussions on enhancing high-level educational cooperation.

Regional exchanges between the two sides have become increasingly dynamic. Northern Ireland actively participates in the China-UK Regional Leaders' Summit mechanism and hosted the third Summit in 2017. It has established sister-province relations with Hubei and Liaoning, and seven sister-city relations have been matched, including those between Belfast and Shenyang, Derry/Londonderry and Dalian, Fermanagh and Huangshi, etc. Local-level cooperation has become a driving force in advancing China–UK relations, particularly those between China and Northern Ireland.

2. A Decade of Fruitful Cooperation: Advancing Mutual Benefit and Shared Development

China is Northern Ireland’s second-largest import market and its 12th-largest export market. Bilateral trade has reached and stabilized at around £1 billion for several consecutive years, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.

Local Chinese-invested enterprises, such as Thompson Aero Seating in Craigavon and SDC Trailers in Antrim, have created nearly 1,500 local jobs, making positive contributions to Northern Ireland’s economic development and employment. More and more new Chinese investors in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, etc., are underway.

For six consecutive years, Northern Irish companies have actively participated in major Chinese trade platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), achieving steady growth in signed deals and further expanding their presence in the Chinese market.

Well-known companies, including Lakeland Dairies, Cranswick Country Foods Ballymena, Old Bushmills Distillery, and Mallaghan Engineering Ltd, have maintained close ties with the Chinese market, with their exports continuing to grow steadily. Chinese brand BYD’s electric vehicles can now be seen on the streets of Northern Ireland, while specialty products from Northern Ireland, like whiskey, pork, and dairy products are making their way onto Chinese dining tables.

In addition, both sides are actively optimizing their trade formation and expanding practical cooperation in emerging sectors such as new energy, financial technology, and life sciences, paving the way for a new stage of high-quality development in bilateral economic and trade relations.

3. A Decade of Cultural Connection: Strengthening the Bonds of People-to-People Exchanges

Educational cooperation has been a top priority in the friendly partnership between China and Northern Ireland. Initiatives such as the China-UK University Consortium on Engineering Education and Research, the Presidents' Forum of UK-China University, and the Belt and Road China-UK Vocational Education Innovation Forum have yielded fruitful results and become exemplary models of high-level people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK.

China is one of the largest sources of international students in Northern Ireland. The Confucius Institute at Ulster University serves as a fantastic window for the local public to learn about Chinese language and culture, with around 20,000 people in Northern Ireland studying Chinese each year.

Cultural and tourism cooperation is a key emotional bridge between China and Northern Ireland. China is a major source of international tourists to Northern Ireland, with nearly 200,000 Chinese visitors having traveled to the region over the past decade, injecting vitality into its economy and cultural exchange.

Performing groups from Northern Ireland, such as the Armagh Rhymers and the Irish dance orchestra, have toured China, bringing authentic Northern Ireland art to Chinese audiences. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland friends from various sectors have shown growing enthusiasm for visiting China, experiencing with their own eyes its dynamic economy, rich culture, and the warmth of everyday life, becoming ambassadors of goodwill between the two sides.

Some unforgettable moments need to be memorized and highlighted: We will never forget, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first chartered flight carrying 400 Chinese students to the UK landed at Belfast International Airport, showcasing Northern Ireland’s genuine warmth and cordiality for Chinese students. Children at Millburn Primary School sang Chinese songs like Let the World Be Filled with Love and See You in Beijing 2022, touching countless viewers around the world through broadcasts by CCTV and international media. The annual “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations continue to delight, with acrobatics, dumplings, and “China red” becoming cherished cultural memories shared by people on both sides.

Northern Ireland is home to a vibrant Chinese community. They are known for their hard work, resilience, and spirit of unity. They have actively integrated into local society, contributed to its multicultural development, and played a vital role in Northern Ireland’s economic and social progress. Deeply connected to their cultural roots, they continue to promote Chinese culture and serve as important bridges fostering friendship and practical cooperation between China and Northern Ireland.

As the saying goes, “When drinking water, remember the source.” The remarkable achievements between China and Northern Ireland are the result of the strategic guidance and support from leaders of both China and the UK, the tireless efforts of pioneers in mutual cooperation, and the dedication of countless friends across all sectors. Only by staying true to the original aspiration of establishing the Consulate, and by carrying forward the fine traditions of friendship, can the tree of China–Northern Ireland relations grow bigger and stronger, yield sweeter fruits of cooperation, and stand firm on the solid foundation of mutual understanding.

Ten years marks not only a milestone, but also a new beginning. As Seamus Heaney, the renowned poet from Northern Ireland, once wrote in The Forge: “To beat real iron out, to work the bellows.” The establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast has built a bridge of cooperation between China and Northern Ireland and has worked as a bellows of mutual benefit. Looking to the future, the Consulate General stands ready to work hand in hand with all sectors of Northern Ireland to keep the flame of exchange burning bright and to forge more “real iron” of win-win cooperation.

May the friendship between China and the United Kingdom/ Northern Ireland endure for generations, may Northern Ireland continue to prosper, and may our peoples walk forward together toward a brighter shared future!