It is quite appropriate that the largest Irish trade delegation ever assembled will travel with the President, Mrs McAleese, on her State visit to China beginning today.
China's 1.3 billion people make it the most populous country in the world, and it is already the second largest economy after the United States. Ireland's relations with China have been developing intensively on a multi-faceted basis for the last five years, and this visit should consolidate the deliberate, and successful, approach involved in that policy. It is a great opportunity to put Irish-Chinese relations on a new plane.
China's vast size and population, along with its rapid economic growth and emerging geopolitical power, make it an indispensable partner for a small state such as Ireland, which depends so much on international involvement for its livelihood. From China's point of view, Ireland's recent economic success with high technology industry, membership of the European Union, close relations with the United States and worldwide diaspora make it a valuable partner despite the great differences in size. On both sides there is now much more mutual awareness at official and popular levels.
Following the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern's trip to China in 1998 the Government decided to set up an Asia strategy in co-ordination with Enterprise Ireland. It concentrated on opening up economic, political and cultural relations. The intervening years have seen a more regular flow of ministerial visits both ways, the high point of which was the four-day visit to Ireland in September 2001 of the Chinese Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji, with a large entourage. Growing investment, trade and political understanding flowed from these contacts. A cultural agreement last year will allow for much more contact. It is symbolised by the performance of Riverdance in the Great Hall of the People, following a request by Mr Zhu, in what will be the largest western touring show ever seen in China.
Over the same period there has been a large flow of Chinese students to Ireland, bringing the current Chinese population in the Republic to some 65,000 people. Mainly from the Shenyang region in the north-east of the country, they have settled very well in Ireland, many of them finding work to help finance the steep costs involved. Mrs McAleese will be accompanied by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, and the delegation contains a large number of educational representatives. One of the highlights of the visit will be the opening of a Glen Dimplex joint venture in Shenyang by the President, Mrs McAleese, who will also visit Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai and be received at the highest levels.