On the afternoon of January 19, 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in the Great Hall of the People. Hu highly commented the new progress made in China-Ireland relations, expressed admiration on Ireland's "Asia strategy" and its commitment to promoting China-Ireland and China-EU relations, adherence to the one-China policy and supports for China's reunification undertaking. He pointed out that China and Ireland have no fundamental conflict of interest and in stead hold the sincere wish to further strengthen the friendly cooperation. We welcome the wider participation of Ireland's business community in China's economic construction, support qualified Chinese businesses in investing in Ireland and stand ready to expand exchanges and cooperation with Ireland in all fields. We hope that related parities in the two countries further implement the series of important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and promote the development of friendly cooperation so as to make China-Ireland relations the typical example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes and social systems.

Ahern said that the current government of Ireland has been committed to promoting the development of Ireland-China relations. Over years both sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in such areas as agriculture, trade, investment, education and tourism. In the first half of last year when Ireland took the rotating presidency of EU, both sides made sound cooperation in promoting the growth of EU-China relations, which Ireland is very happy to see. My visit this time is accompanied by a large delegation composed of many entrepreneurs and the purpose is to continue to stimulate the long-term and stable political, economic and trade and cultural relations between the two countries on the current basis.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is also present at the meeting.