Together, Ireland and China can promote peace and development around the world, writes Sha Hailin, ambassador of China to Ireland
As the Chinese ambassador to Ireland, I'm so happy to continue as a bridge between China and Ireland, to maintain and further strengthen and develop the cordial relations between us.
Twenty-six years ago, at the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China, it would have been difficult to imagine how vibrant and active our interrelationships would become in so short a time.
After I came to Ireland, a beautiful country, I heard many friends use the word "mature" to describe today's Sino-Irish relationship. Likes trees growing, a 26-year-old should certainly be mature. And yet, more importantly, this 26-year-old is not only mature, but also still growing at a full speed.
Twenty-six years ago, there were very little mutual exchanges and understanding between our two countries and two peoples. At that time the bilateral trade volume only amounted to $5.15 million, but it has increased rapidly. According to the statistics of China's Customs Office, from January to November 2004 the economic and trade relations between China and Ireland had been dramatically boosted - total bilateral trade volume increased to $2.91 billion at a growth rate 40.3 per cent higher than the same period of 2003.
From 1989 to October 2004, the total number of Irish projects invested in China reached 76, with a contracted value of $140 million and actual input of $49.68 million. From January to October 2003, Irish companies invested in 15 projects in China with a contractual value of $10.22 million and an actual input of $4.56 million achieved.
In recent years, the number of trade missions from both China and Ireland also increased at a high speed, especially the visits and exchanges in the field of high-tech industry. The visits of a large number of Chinese software delegations deepened their understanding of the development of Ireland's software industry.
Many Irish companies established branches and joint ventures or co-operation enterprises in China, and significant numbers of Irish intellectual property products have been sold in China. Now the economic and technical co-operation between China and Ireland has extended from assembling, consultancy services and technical transfers to two-way investment in the telecommunication, machinery and software sectors.
From January to October 2004, China imported 66 technology projects from Ireland with total contract value of $18.57 million. We have started the second round recruitment of the projects for Science Research Co-operation Fund this month. It has become a new engine for the development of China-Ireland trade and commerce.
To date China and Ireland have signed the following agreements: Agreement on Cultural Co-operation (1985), Agreement on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Co-operation (1986), Agreement on Civil Air Transportation Services (1996), Agreement on Avoiding Double Taxation (2000), Agreement on Scientific and Technical Co-operation (2000), Agreement on Fund for Scientific and Technical Projects (2002), Memorandum of Understanding on Authorised Destination Status of Chinese Group Tourists Travelling to Ireland (2004) and Memorandum of Understanding on Health Co-operation (2004).
The two countries have already established a co-ordination mechanism for regular meetings of a joint economic and trade committee as well as one on science and technology - eight meetings have been successfully held to date.
And the cultural exchanges between the two peoples have flourished - from the first half of last year, the Irish Cultural Festival in Beijing and Shanghai was a great success and attracted large audiences, while there were also Chinese Cultural Festivals in Dublin, Galway and Cork in the second half of last year.
So far, more and more students and scholars are exchanged between universities, institutes of technology, and independent colleges in our two nations. Today there are almost 15,000 Chinese students, and maybe more, studying in Ireland. All these exchanges play a significant role in enhancing the relationship between our two countries.
Progress has been significant at all levels and many different fields. There have been frequent visits by the high-level leaders from both sides. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, paid his first official visit in 1998 while the Premier of China, Zhu Rongji, reciprocated in Ireland in 2001. The President, Mrs McAleese, paid a very successful State visit to China last year, and the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao's visit to Ireland last year was a Chinese premier's second visit in just three years. The Taoiseach's current visit to China had been eagerly anticipated.
I understand China and Ireland, thousands of miles apart, have different social systems and cultural backgrounds, but we have much in common. In the long history of our two countries, we have many similarities , not least our current flourishing economic development.
China is known as "the Dragon" in Asia, while Ireland is called the "the Celtic Tiger" in Europe. In China, dragons and tigers are known to dance together when they meet. We call it "long teng hu yue". Together, we can help to promote peace and development around the world. We can invite more countries to join this kind of dragon-tiger dance.
My hope is to further the growing relationships between our two countries, to enrich them. I wish people to be happy for us in this enterprise. We Chinese look on friendship as a tree to be watered and cared for, so that it grows in depth and strength. I warmly wish that the China/Ireland tree of friendship will get greener, its roots get stronger and its fruit be bountiful in 2005.