爱尔兰总理米哈尔·马丁将于今日（1月4日，星期日）启程前往中国，对北京和上海进行正式访问。
马丁总理在北京的日程包括与中国国家主席习近平、国务院总理李强、全国人大常委会委员长赵乐际举行会晤。
在上述会晤中，他将讨论爱尔兰与中国的双边关系，包括两国间重要的经贸关系、欧中关系以及共同面临的全球性挑战。在全球动荡之际，他将强调有效的多边机制对于促进和平与安全、确保公平贸易环境的重要性。
马丁总理还将与爱尔兰和中国工商界代表及投资者进行交流，涵盖金融服务、继续教育与高等教育、食品饮料等多个领域。访问期间，他将与12所爱尔兰高校及其中国高等教育合作伙伴的代表会面。
在上海，马丁总理将与龚正市长会晤，并与多位工商界代表围绕贸易、投资、旅游及食品饮料等领域展开交流。
访问前，总理表示：
“我十分期待此次中国之行，以期深化两国在政治、文化与经济领域的联系。”
“我在北京和上海的会晤及各项活动，将为深化爱中关系以及讨论一系列机遇与挑战提供契机。”
“我期待与习近平主席、李强总理及赵乐际委员长会面。除探讨爱中关系整体发展外，我们还将就包括和平与安全、贸易环境在内的紧迫全球挑战交换意见。”
“我将强调欧盟与中国建立坚实关系的重要性，以及构建强健有效的多边机制的必要性。”
“我也期待会见中爱两国商界人士，共同探讨双方投资者与出口商面临的发展机遇。”
“在北京的活动中，继续教育和高等教育将是重点议题——这是双方合作潜力巨大的重要领域，相关合作将在科研创新与人文交流方面产生长远效益。”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to China today (Sunday, January 4) for an official visit to Beijing and Shanghai.
The Taoiseach’s programme in Beijing will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji.
In these meetings, he will discuss Ireland’s bilateral relationship with China, including our important economic and trading relationship; EU-China relations; and shared global challenges. At a time of global turbulence, he will emphasise the importance of effective multilateral institutions to promote peace and security, and to ensure a fair trading environment.
The Taoiseach will also engage with Irish and Chinese business leaders and investors, across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, further and higher education, and food and beverages. During the visit, he will meet with representatives of twelve Irish colleges and their Chinese higher education partners.
In Shanghai, the Taoiseach will meet with Mayor Gong Zheng. He will also engage with a range of business leaders, focussing on trade, investment, tourism, and food and beverages.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the Taoiseach said:
“I very much look forward to visiting China and deepening the political, cultural, and economic connections between our two countries.”
“My meetings and engagements in Beijing and Shanghai provide an opportunity to deepen Ireland’s relations with China and to discuss a range of opportunities and challenges.”
“I look forward to engaging with President Xi, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao of the National People’s Congress. In addition to discussing the broad relationship between Ireland and China, we will exchange views on pressing global challenges including peace and security and the trading environment.”
“I will stress the importance of a strong EU-China relationship, as well as robust and effective multilateral institutions.”
“I also look forward to meeting Chinese and Irish businesspeople to explore the opportunities that exist for both Irish and Chinese investors and exporters.”
“In Beijing, there will be a particular focus on further and higher education - an important area with a lot of potential for both partners, and where cooperation will yield longer-term dividends in terms of research and innovation, and people-to-people links.”