TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen confirmed the Government and Chinese authorities would co-finance a new building at the Confucius Institute at UCD when he met a senior Communist Party of China official yesterday.
Li Changchun, who met Mr Cowen in Government Buildings, is the most senior Chinese politician to visit Ireland since prime minister Wen Jiabao in 2004.
He is a member of the standing committee of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China.
The pair discussed trade, investment, culture, education and agriculture over a working lunch.
“The Taoiseach also took the opportunity to confirm that the Government would co-finance with the Chinese authorities the development of a new, flagship building for the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin,” a statement released by the Government press office said.
“This will be the first Confucius Institute internationally to receive capital funding from the Chinese authorities and testifies to the strong performance of the institute since it was established in 2006.”
Mr Cowen said his discussions with Mr Li convinced him there were major opportunities to increase trade and investment between Ireland and China. “Mr Li made clear to me that Ireland’s brand and reputation are very strong in China,” he added.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural co-operation and exchange with her Chinese counterpart, Mr Cai Wu.
Minister of State for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher signed a memorandum of understanding on economic co-operation with Mr Chong Quan, vice minister of the ministry of commerce.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International Ireland’s executive director Colm O’Gorman said it was important that trading relations with China were maintained and built on, but also criticised the Chinese administration.
“It’s important that we build and maintain trading relations with a country like China. But this is also a government that detains thousands of men and women in prison or under house arrest simply because of their support for human rights,” Mr O’Gorman said.
“China is also the world’s number one executioner. It is crucial that the Government makes clear in its contacts with the Chinese government the concerns of many Irish people about China’s appalling human rights record.”
