Chinese premier to meet with Taoiseach during visit to Ireland

Mr Varadkar said: “I look forward to extending a warm welcome to Premier Li on his first visit to Ireland. “It comes in a year in which we will mark 45 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. “China is one of the world’s great powers politically and economically and I am glad that Premier Li has decided to include Ireland in his itinerary.”The Taoiseach added: “China is an important economic partner, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and has a huge role to play in overcoming the shared challenges the world faces, including working for peace and security in the world and ensuring we stop climate change. “Under our Asia-Pacific Strategy, the Government is also committed to growing our bilateral political, economic and people to people relationships throughout the region, including with China. “I look forward to what I hope will be an in-depth and constructive discussion on issues where we are of like-mind, as well as those on which we have a different perspective.”