On 4 September, Ambassador Zhao Xiyuan published a signed article in Dublin Gazette titled ”EU-China Relations a force for good in an uncertain world”. The full text is as follows:

It has been 80 years since the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. Amid the devastation of the deadliest war in human history, China and Europe, both as the main battlefields in the East and the West, stood firm against fascist aggression and achieved ultimate victory.

The war is brutal, and its victory was inseparable from the invaluable supports of peace-loving and justice-seeking countries and peoples.

Chinese people will always remember the direct support of numerous anti-fascist fighters from European countries, including Poland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Romania, and Bulgaria,etc.

Chinese people will always remember Father Patrick Maurice Connaughton, an Irish bishop born in Galway, actively raised funds for the Chinese people during the war, provided relief to displaced civilians, and supported the education of children amid the devastation of war. His efforts represent a significant chapter in the international community’s solidarity with China during that difficult time.

80 years have passed, human society and the international landscape have undergone profound transformations.

We have every reason to be proud of the achievements made. The centuries-old colonial system has been dismantled, the shadow of the cold war has been lifted, people’s living standards have increased significantly, and science and technology have progressed at an unprecedented pace. The pursuit of peace, development, and cooperation has become a shared aspiration across nations, and humanity now looks toward a promising future.

However, it must be acknowledged that the world is still far from peaceful, and serious challenges continue to emerge from time to time. Armed conflicts driven by territory, ethnic, religion and resource persist, and the threat of terrorism remains grave. Many people around the world continue to live in poverty, and development efforts encounter numerous challenges. Environmental pollution, the spread of infectious diseases, and various forms of transnational crime pose growing threats.

A major source of turbulence in today’s world lies in the blind belief by some countries in the supremacy of force, which has effectively reopened Pandora’s box and revived the law of the jungle. A multipolar world does not equate to chaos, it calls for stronger adherence to commonly accepted rules. Without rules, what is at the table today may become part of the menu tomorrow. Major countries, in particular, should act as role models in upholding integrity and the rule of law, firmly rejecting double standards and zero-sum games.

People always want certainty and goodwill. 76 years ago, the People’s Republic of China was established. Today, when one examines what China has said and what it has done, it is more likely to see a reliable partner rather than a competitor or even a systemic rival.

China has been a strong force in safeguarding peace. As a diplomat living in Ireland, I have been deeply impressed by the Irish people's unwavering commitment to peace and the high international reputation for Ireland’s policy of neutrality. As a Chinese, I am also proud of my country's approaches and positions on peace and security issues.

As the only major country in the world to have peace written in its constitution and the only major country to have committed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, China does not initiate wars, engage in conflicts, or compel other countries to take sides for geopolitical purposes.

When security concerns rising, strengthening national security is a reasonable response. For ourselves, China has not yet to achieve national reunification, and its Taiwan, Xizang and Xinjiang regions remain under threat and disturbance from separatist forces and terrorism.

However, universalizing security concerns to all matters is not an effective approach. As the saying goes, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Forcibly linking economic, technological, and cultural issues to security risks will undermine mutual understanding and trust, thereby intensifying confrontation.

There is a belief that humanity forms an indivisible security community, and that the security of one nation should never come at the expense of another. The security interests of all countries are equally important. China consistently pursues a defensive national defense policy, focused solely on meeting legitimate security needs, with its defense budget remaining at approximately 1.5% of GDP.

China has been a strong force for promoting development. Domestically, more than 800 million people have been lifted out of absolute poverty, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals a decade ahead of schedule. Remarkable progress in science and technology has also been made, from 5G, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and robotics that improves daily life, to forefront breakthroughs in lunar exploration and cancer treatment.

As an old Chinese saying goes, “a single flower does not make spring, but a hundred flowers in full bloom bring spring to the garden.” The same applies to international cooperation. The Chinese economy is still undergoing transformation in its development model and optimizing its economic structure. Unbalanced and inadequate development remains a significant challenge, presenting both difficulties and opportunities that require joint efforts to address.

Through initiatives like the Belt and Road, shared development with the Global South has been promoted through extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. The Global AI Governance Initiative and other frameworks have been proposed to support the inclusive and responsible development of artificial intelligence. China also continues to expand high-standard opening up to the outside world by comprehensively liberalizing manufacturing access and granting zero-tariff treatment on products from all least developed countries.

China has been a strong force in advancing inclusiveness. Its historical engagement with the outside world was characterized not by clashes of civilizations, but by cultural integration. Through such exchanges, complementarity and innovation have been fostered. For example, Buddhism, originally introduced from India, developed in China while simultaneously advancing China’s Confucianism and Taoism to new stages of growth.

The Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by China, based on the belief that tolerance, coexistence, exchanges, and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity’s modernization process and fostering the flourishing of the world’s cultural diversity, especially as countries become increasingly interconnected. Guided by this idea, visa-free access has been unilaterally granted by China to citizens of more than 100 countries, and the Young Envoys Scholarship for encouraging exchanges among young generations has been initiated.

China has been a strong force in championing multilateralism. From the principles of equality and sovereignty established by the Peace of Westphalia to the humanitarian spirit enshrined in the Geneva Conventions, the pursuit of a just and equitable international order has long been a shared aspiration of humanity. Over the past 80 years, the UN, as the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental organization, has played an irreplaceable role in promoting peace and security, development and human rights. Thanks to these efforts, the world has experienced the longest period of stability and prosperity in modern history.

China was the first country to sign the UN Charter and has consistently fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations. Its contribution to UN regular budget has grown from less than 1% in 2000 to over 20% today. China is also the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and the largest provider of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the Security Council. Over the past 35 years, Chinese defense forces has carried out 26 peacekeeping missions, deploying more than 50,000 personnel and 17 of whom have made the sacrifice in service.

Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the victory of World War II and the post-war international order. A series of documents with the force of international law, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have reaffirmed China’s sovereignty over Taiwan province, and these historical and legal facts are indisputable.

On October 1, 1949, the Government of the People’s Republic of China was established as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, replacing the government of the Republic of China. This change of regime did not alter China’s status as a subject of international law. China’s sovereignty and inherent territorial boundaries remain unchanged. The government of the People’s Republic of China naturally enjoys and exercises full sovereignty, including Taiwan Province. The authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is indisputable. The one-China principle is the fundamental basis for all countries establishing diplomatic relations with China.

It is clearly evident that over the past decades, China’s development has embodied the rise of a positive force contributing to global peace and progress.

And the effort is still going on. This year, China hosted the World AI Conference and the Global Civilizations Dialogue, aiming at addressing global challenges through joint efforts of the international community. We are willing to open our arms to all countries and warmly welcome future collaboration with Ireland and Europe in the fields of mutual interests.

Looking ahead, the prospects for China’s development are both promising and inspiring. As reflected in economic indicators so far this year, its economic growth reached 5.3% in the first half of 2025, contributing over 30% to global economic growth. Significant investments have been made to encourage consumer spending, including comprehensive childcare subsidies and consumer goods trade-in programs. The IMF lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2025, while simultaneously raising its forecast for China’s economy in 2025 by 0.8 percent to 4.8%.

In 2024, China’s total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 48 trillion CNY, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.5%. From 2021 to 2024, cumulative imports of various consumer goods reached 7.4 trillion CNY. China welcomes high-quality goods and services from Ireland and Europe, and its vast, open market will continue to offer significant opportunities for Irish and European enterprises.

China-EU relations has also gone through five decades. As long as both sides remain committed to openness and win-win cooperation, the trend of economic globalization will maintain resilient. China looks forward to working with Ireland and EU to safeguard the post-war international order and the multilateral trading system, to provide the world with much-needed stability and certainty, and to create a better future based on mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development.