Dublin: Taoiseach Micheál Martin is undertaking a five-day official visit to China as part of broader efforts to strengthen ties between Beijing and the European Union. The visit marks the first by a serving leader of an EU member state amid China’s renewed diplomatic outreach to the bloc, which has intensified since 2012.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it views the visit as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust and expand cooperation with Ireland. During his stay, Mr Martin is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and will also travel to Shanghai.
The visit comes at a sensitive time in global politics, with rising tensions between China and Japan and ongoing trade frictions between China and the EU. In December, Beijing imposed temporary tariffs of up to 42.7% on certain EU dairy products, including milk and cheese.
China has also launched investigations into European brandy and pork imports, widely seen as a response to EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Mr Martin previously met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Dublin in February 2025, where discussions focused on EU–China relations, trade, human rights, and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Irish Samachar English News
Kindly click to join WhatsApp group chat to get important news and breaking news from Irish Samachar