At least 20 food manufacturers from the dairy and pig processing sectors will travel to China with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, later this month to promote Irish goods there.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Ms Coughlan, said she would be travelling with the trade delegation, which will be one of the largest ever.
She said the delegation hoped to sign trade protocols with the Chinese to facilitate business between the two countries.
"The food delegation will be led by An Bord Bia and we expect about 20 companies, mainly from the dairy and poultry sectors, to take part," she said yesterday.
The Minister said opportunities were growing in the dairy and pigmeat sectors for Irish firms. "I know that the Kerry Group is already in China and that while there we will be performing an opening ceremony at one of its plants."
The Minister said Irish firms would be looking at possible joint ventures with Chinese companies.
Presenting her annual review and outlook to journalists, the Minister said it should not be forgotten that the agri-food sector continued to be of major national social and economic importance. "The overall value of the industry is €10.5 billion, of which exports account for €6.8 billion, and it generates employment in excess of 160,000."
She said she did not expect a dramatic fall in production as a result of the decoupling of production from farm supports. "I think farmers will see it as an opportunity to produce, but in a different way than before now.
"There is going to be a lot more concentration on consumer choice and on the role of the market place and price, and I think farmers will rise to those challenges."
The Minister said she did not see farmers abandoning land and leaving it fallow. The Agri Vision 2015 report, drawn up by Mr Alan Dukes, also gave no indication that this would happen.
"Farmers will be freed to farm as they wish and they will still get their cheques. In fact this year they will be getting guaranteed income and this will free them to continue what they are doing or move into alternative enterprises."
Farmers would receive not only the so-called single payment this year but also 40 per cent of what they were owed from 2004, she said.
She also pledged to protect the Irish sugar industry.