Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, January 5, 2026.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin called on China to engage in free trade during talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, amid trade tensions between China and the European Union.
Dublin will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union next July. Europeans complain of a trade imbalance in favor of China, the world’s second-largest economy, due to restrictions on accessing the Chinese market.
A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
Martin told reporters at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, “We believe in free trade and open relations. Especially concerning our trade relations, we are convinced that it is essential we work together to promote free trade.”
Martin arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a five-day visit, the first by an Irish head of government to China since 2012.
The Chinese President said, “Since China and Ireland established a mutually beneficial partnership in 2012, the volume of trade has quadrupled, and mutual investments have grown in a balanced manner.”
He added that China “wishes to deepen political mutual trust with Ireland and expand cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, and to invigorate China-Europe relations.”
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin
Michael Martin served as Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) from June 2020 to December 2022 as the leader of Fianna Fáil. His tenure was defined by leading Ireland through the COVID-19 pandemic and forming a historic coalition government with Fine Gael and the Green Party.
China
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with a recorded history spanning over 4,000 years. It is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, which reflect its long imperial past and profound cultural traditions.
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is a state building located on the western edge of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, completed in 1959. It serves as the meeting place for China’s national legislature and for major political and diplomatic events.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China, with a history spanning over three millennia as a significant political and cultural center. It served as the seat of imperial power during several dynasties, most notably the Ming and Qing, and is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Today, it is a major global metropolis blending ancient architecture with modern development.
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries, established to foster cooperation and prevent conflict after World War II. Its foundations were laid with the 1951 European Coal and Steel Community, evolving through treaties into a single market with common policies and a shared currency, the euro, used by many member states.
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland, founded as a Viking settlement in the 9th century. It later became the centre of English rule in Ireland and is now renowned for its literary history, vibrant culture, and landmarks like Trinity College and Dublin Castle.
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is one of the European Union’s main decision-making bodies, representing the governments of the member states. It was formally established in the 1950s alongside the European Coal and Steel Community and has evolved to negotiate and adopt EU laws and coordinate policies.
Ireland
Ireland is an island nation in northwestern Europe, historically shaped by Celtic culture, Christianization, and centuries of English rule, leading to its partition in 1921 into the independent Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom. It is renowned for its rich literary heritage, traditional music, and globally influential diaspora.
