On July 31, 2013, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with Eamon Gilmore, Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, who is on an official visit to China.

Wang Yi expressed that China and Ireland issued the Joint Statement on Establishing Strategic Partnership for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation last year, pushing forward bilateral relations to a new stage of development. The two countries enjoy a sound momentum of bilateral cooperation in all fields and offer understanding and support to each other in international affairs. China is willing to work with Ireland to strengthen the political guidance for China-Ireland relationship, to vigorously advance bilateral practical cooperation and to further promote people-to-people exchanges, to unceasingly enrich the content of strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and to set up the example for friendly coexistence between countries with differences in size, political system, national conditions and culture.

Gilmore noted that Ireland highly values the relationship with China and adheres to the One China policy. Ireland hopes to continue to expand and deepen bilateral practical cooperation and exchanges in the fields of economy, trade, education, agriculture and culture based on mutual trust and mutual understanding. Ireland is willing to continue to play a positive role to push for greater development of EU-China relations.

Both sides as well exchanged views on international and regional affairs of mutual interest.