1. Political Relations
Chinaand Irelandsigned the Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on June 1979 and exchanged ambassadors in 1980. Ever since the bilateral relations have seen smooth development. In recent years, the relations between the countries have made still faster progress with their exchanges and cooperation deepened and enriched continuously in the fields of economy and trade, scientific education and culture. The major visits to Ireland, on the Chinese side, include those by Minister of Health Cui Yueli in May 1983, Minister of Culture Zhu Muzhi in May 1985, Minister of Agriculture He Kang in July 1985, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zheng Tuobin in May 1986, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Xueqian in May 1986, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhou Nan in September 1988, Minister of Civil Affairs Doji Cering in October 1994, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Wu Yi in April 1995, Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen in October 1995 , Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Tian Jiyun in March 1996 and Vice Premier Li Lanqing in April 2000, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Song Jian in May 2001, Premier Zhu Rongji in September 2001, Vice Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of NPC Li Shuzheng in September 2001,Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of NPC and Chairwoman of All-China Federation of Women Peng Peiyun in October 2001 and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ye Xuanping in October 2002.
Main visits to China, on the Irish side, include those by Minister for Foreign Affairs Gerald Collins in October 1982, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Frank Cluskey in May 1983, Minister for Health and Social Welfare Barry Desmond in September 1983, President Patrick J. Hillery in May 1988, Minister for Tourism and Trade Charlie McCreev in April 1993, Attorney General Harry Whelehan in March 1994, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dick Spring in September 1994, Minister for the Marintime and Natural Resources Michael Woods in November1997, Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews in February 1998,Director of Public Prosecutions Eamonn M. Barnes in May 1998, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs Dermot Ahern in June 1998, Speaker Seamus Pattison in July 1998, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Mary Harney in September 2000, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands Ms. Sile de Valera in January 2001, and Minister for Education and Science Michael Woods in February 2001, Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen in January 2002, Naval Commander Commodore John J. Kavanagh in March 2002 and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell in March 2003.
II. Economic and Trade Cooperation
Though small in volume, the Sino-Irish bilateral trade has seen fast growth. Statistics from China's General Administration of Customs show that at the inception of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the trade volume was only US$6.90 million. However, it jumped to US$1.46 billion in 2002. The bilateral trade volume between January and April in 2003 amounted to US$696 million, an increase of 48.5% over that of the same period of the previous year. Irelandinvested in a total of 48 projects in Chinaby the end of 2002, with a contracted fund of US$109 million and real input of US$29.89 million.
Products exported mainly to Irelandare: converter, spare parts of household appliances and radio communication equipment, clothes, medicine, etc. Products imported from Irelandare: refrigeration equipment, medicine, wool, spare parts of internal-combustion engine, auto data processing instruments, and accessories and spare parts of communication apparatus, etc. Until now, eight sessions of the China-Ireland Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation have been held according to the Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaon Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in 1986. The Irish Trade Board (now EnterpriseIreland) set up an office in Shanghaiin early 1998.The two countries signedAgreement on Civil Transport in September, 1998, Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation in April,2000 and Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in September, 2000.
III. Cultural and Educational Exchanges
Chinaand Irelandsigned the Agreement on Cultural Exchanges in 1985. In September 2001, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation, whereby the two sides agree to hold a Chinese Cultural Festival in Irelandand an Irish Cultural Festival in China. In terms of inter-governmental educational exchanges, one scholarship is exchanged each year. The number of Chinese students studying in Irelandfor self-sponsored education is growing drastically, which now stands at more than 20,000. Since 1980, there have been more than 300 Irish students who have studied in China. The Agreement on Education Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of Ireland was signed in February 2001.
IV. Important Agreements and Documents
1. Agreement on Cultural Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of Ireland(May 1985)
2. Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of Irelandon Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological(May 1986)
3. Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of IrelandRelating to Civil Air Transport (September 1998)
4. Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (April 2000)
5. Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of Ireland (September 2000)
6. Agreement on Education Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of Chinaand the Government of Ireland (February 2001)
(Information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC ) |
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