It was the biggest trade mission in the history of the State. The Taoiseach, four of his Ministers and five university presidents took part in the recent trade mission to China. The UCD president, Dr Hugh Brady, kept a diary of his visit. These are his reflections
Monday, January 17th - Beijing
Colour is the word. It is always the visuals that tell you first you're in a foreign country. The sounds too, of course, especially when the tone and content of the language is so different from the strains of Hiberno-English. But the vibrant colours of Beijing, even through jet-lagged eyes on a Monday morning, let you know that an encounter with something new and different is about to begin.
A momentary lapse into the security of the familiar occurs on arrival at the Kempinski Hotel - it is booked out with Irish and familiar sounds and accents fill the air. This is the largest delegation of its type ever to leave Ireland, so I suppose that it will make its own impact, even in this vast city. Noone singing Galway Bay yet, though - thankfully!
Decide to use free time to explore the Beijing-Dublin difference a bit further. On walkabout, one feels oneself in an impressively vibrant city, massive but safe, exuding an air of polite formality and with a palpable energy and power. The most visible manifestations of this are the cranes - they're everywhere. And this contributes to the air of anticipation about the 2008 Olympics, which I suppose is a sign of commonality, as is the abundance of European, American and Japanese cars - few bikes in sight. These things serve to enhance rather than diminish the overall sense of the new, however.
Tiananmen Square cannot but leave one with mixed feelings - an impressive place with a dark history, and all of this underscored by the death of Zhao at the time of our visit. It is a most impressive physical space and today the largest square in the world is bedecked with Irish and Chinese flags. But those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it and the imperative to remember asserts itself throughout.
On returning to the hotel, the ambivalence of this great country is underscored when a mention of China on CNN is followed by five-minute blackout. It's clear to me that, apart from the education and business agenda for this trip, we have much work to do to achieve the mutual understanding needed to build long-term, harmonious relationships with this emergent great power; it is the country of Confucius and Lao Tzu, not a place shaped by Greeks and Christians. Education will be needed to both underpin and complete the work of commerce and technology.
Tuesday, January 18th
This morning, the university presidents meet the Taoiseach and Minister for Education to discuss university funding in the global context - they seem to be getting a feel for the intensity of the competition which we will face. It's perhaps the most difficult message to convey successfully, that Irish higher education is in a global contest - as much as Irish business - and, if we're not funded to compete globally, we will fail. This isn't a matter of local, or even national, politics anymore.
We go on to visit Tsinghua University with the Taoiseach and Minister for Education. Tsinghua has a most impressive campus where the Taoiseach gives a good speech and fields probing questions from students on Ireland's economic success, EU environmental law, the EU arms embargo; the Irish attendees wonder if the questions were planted.
After lunch, I make a visit to the Great Wall, located one hour outside Beijing. En route, one sees a different China; you can't but get a feel for the poverty and yet through it the beauty of the countryside. The Wall does not disappoint - a true marvel of human imagination and endurance.
In the airport lounge I see the Taoiseach and Wen Jibao on TV in the Great Hall of the people. As the leader of 1.6 billion people shows his respect for the leader of four million, I do get a brief surge of national pride; we must be doing something right!
Wednesday, January 19th - Shanghai
Shanghai is where New York meets the Orient; the colour and sound systems still bespeak great difference, but the bustling, confident skyline evokes Manhattan. The Taoiseach gives an address at Fudan University, followed by questions from the students. These focus on Ireland's economic success, sport and music; after mentions of Roy Keane and Westlife, the Chinese attendees wonder if these questions were planted by the Irish!
Fudan is another state-of-the-art campus whose focus is shifting to PhD training geared to the objective of high-quality research graduate output; their strengths are ICT, engineering and life sciences research. Any daft notion that China is only about low-cost manufacturing and is not an emerging research and education giant is well and truly dispelled.
UCD has strong links with Fudan through our shared BSc in computer science, and I've recently been invited to be a member of their centenary committee. I used the opportunity to discuss potential future avenues of enhanced collaboration. I learn that Fudan is putting up 10 new buildings as part of the centenary celebration. I consider briefly writing to our Minister asking for 15 new buildings for UCD, since we are celebrating UCD 150 this year!
A cultural evening follows, hosted by Ambassador to China Declan Kelleher and featuring Dervish - probably, for the occasion, a more appropriate choice than Westlife. The evening gives the opportunity to socialise with the business leaders on the delegation. I am very impressed by their diversity - from beef to buildings to software to shipping - and by both the hunger and ingenuity they display.
I forecast to myself that the next great wave of Irish migration will be economic in character, as were many past waves, but the new wave will be populated by entrepreneurs, seeking economic opportunity on a scale their ancestors could only have dreamed of.
Thursday, January 20th
At the Enterprise Ireland business breakfast next morning, while some sore heads are evident, the scale of the mission and their contacts are fully visible. The Taoiseach addresses the gathering and then fields questions about what the Government will be doing for just about every Irish sector represented there.
For once, everyone is happy that no questions were planted. Some wonder if the extra spring in the Taoiseach's step relates to news received about how much he's up in the polls back home.
On the journey to Pudong Airport, through massive industrial and residential belts, the scale of the enterprise and environmental challenge ahead becomes apparent.
Saturday January 22nd - Hong Kong
When we arrive in Hong Kong and have to go through immigration and change currency, the meaning of "one country - two systems" is brought home. Hong Kong is a bustling affluent city in a stunning location, but clearly threatened by Shanghai's success. It is also more expensive.
A visit to Hong Kong University of Science and Engineering, where the level of investment and the facilities it has produced are staggering, underlines - again - the challenge we'll be facing to compete internationally. Some relief from weighty questions is provided by the All Stars game, played on the synthetic surface of Hong Kong Football Club. These lads look very fit out of season and the display of gaelic football skills is appreciated by Irish, Australians and New Zealanders present.
Afterwards more than 500 attend a dinner wonderfully organised by Hong Kong GAA Club.
Sunday, January 23rd - Home thoughts from abroad
The Celtic Tiger has the attention of the world - literally billions are asking: "What is the Irish secret?" Even sceptics could not fail to be impressed by the Taoiseach's energy and stature on the international stage. As for ourselves, a large delegation has been given exposure to the level of competition we will face as a huge investment in higher education is synchronised with an industrial development strategy which is anything but low cost.
How will we keep ahead? If this doesn't prompt an awareness of the need for increased funding, nothing will. And if we don't make the right investments now, will future Irish leaders still be getting the accolades of the Great Hall in a decade's time?
