Minister McGrath begins official visit to China for St Patrick’s Day 2024

The Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath T.D., has begun his St Patrick’s Day visit to China, where he will visit Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. During his six day programme, the Minister will undertake a series of engagements coordinated by the Irish Embassy in Beijing and Irish Consulates in Hong Kong and Shanghai – all locations where Ireland has a significant footprint of diplomatic missions and state agency offices. The Minister will meet with the Minister of Finance of China and a wide range of business figures involved in Ireland-China trade, as well as members of the Irish community. The Minister will also undertake a number of engagements during his visit in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

Speaking in advance of his visit, the Minister said:

“My focus during this St Patrick’s Day visit is on strengthening relationships with Irish communities across three key cities in China, and on using this important opportunity to engage with Chinese interlocutors and maintain the momentum of high level engagement with China, following the recent visit of Premier Li Qiang to Ireland and the Tánaiste’s visit to China in November last year. On the occasion of this visit, we will also be celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China.

China is the world’s second largest economy and has grown to become Ireland’s fifth largest export partner for goods and seventh for services. In the five years to 2022, annual goods exports alone have trebled in value to €44.5 billion. I look forward to assisting Irish businesses to further develop the massive trade opportunities that exist with China.

In economic and political terms, China matters across the globe and I want to learn first-hand how it is performing, what the trends are and what the opportunities are for Ireland and for Irish business. China and Ireland have built enduring links in education, in culture and in tourism and Ireland’s visibility in China is growing.

I am greatly looking forward to meeting with the Irish communities in China, as well as political representatives and business figures, as we come together to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in 2024.”

ENDS