Dear Minister Noel Grealish,
Dear TDs and Senators,
Dear Lord Mayors and Cathaoirleachs,
Dear Ambassadors,
Distinguished Guests,
It is a great pleasure to gather with you all this afternoon to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. I extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests, and my sincere thanks to all friends who support China’s development and China-Ireland friendship.
What does 77 years mean for a nation?
In China’s case, it means developing from being poor and weak to becoming the world’s second-largest economy. The GDP has soared from 67.9 billion to over 140 trillion RMB. Per capita income has grown 76 times. It also means moving from staying closed to high-level openness, with actual utilization of foreign direct investment being increased by 176 times.
And what happens in today’s China in just one minute?
A Fuxing high-speed train travels nearly 6 kilometers. 18 new energy vehicles roll off assembly lines. China-Europe Railway Express trains transport 3.6 TEUs of cargo. None of these was imaginable 77 years ago.
If you visit China today, you will see how technology makes daily life effortless. Fresh groceries arrive at your doorstep with a tap on a smartphone. Scanning a QR code can get you easy access to buses, subways, and medical appointments.
My hometown Xi’an is in the northwest of China. When I graduated from college, the train ride to Beijing took around 17 hours. Today, it just takes four. With over 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail, the old Chinese saying, “however far apart, we are as near as neighbors”, has become everyday reality.
Over the past 77 years, China has built the world’s largest education, social security, and healthcare systems. Around 280 million students are enrolled in school right now. Basic education coverage is well above the average for upper-middle-income countries. China also leads in green technology: nearly 40% of our electricity comes from renewable sources, 4 out of every 10 cars on the road run on electric power, and over 20% of our steel is made from recycled scrap metal.
Through targeted policies, China won the largest battle against poverty in human history. In Xinjiang, the population has grown from 5 million to over 26 million, with machine harvesting for cotton reaching up to 95%. In Xizang, life expectancy has risen from 35 to 73 years, and railway coverage per person is now on the same level with Ireland’s.
Many people marvel at China’s progress, though a few still claim China took shortcuts. But the facts speak for themselves. No country can achieve long-term growth through subsidies or currency tricks. China contributes about 30% to global economic growth each year, serving as a reliable engine for the world economy. These facts disprove any “China collapse” narrative.
China’s population means a simple rule applies: divide any achievement by 1.4 billion, and it looks small; multiply any problem by 1.4 billion, and it looks huge. For a nation of such vast dimensions and complex national conditions, the journey toward independence, development, and prosperity demands resolute and strong leadership.
The essential foundation of China’s progress remains its adherence to the leadership of the Communist Party of China. As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the 105th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC this past July, the Party’s strength comes fundamentally from its fine qualities including the dedication to the pursuit of truth, the deep bond with the people, the determination to shoulder historical missions, the readiness to follow the trend of development, the courage and capability to fight, and the commitment to self-strengthening.
Surveys by Harvard University show public satisfaction with the CPC is above 90%. Behind that number are the fundamental changes in millions of lives, and a governing party fulfilling its commitment to the people.
Our vision does not stop at our own borders. China works not only for the well-being of its own people, but for the global good.
Five years ago, President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Development Initiative. Last year, he proposed the Global Governance Initiative. These initiatives focus on sovereign equality, international law, multilateralism, people orientation and practical action. So far, GDI have raised over 23 billion USD, funded more than 1,800 community projects, and trained over 200,000 professionals. The Belt and Road Initiative has delivered over 4,000 projects worldwide, building vital infrastructure for sustainable growth.
Through these concrete actions, China demonstrates a clear commitment: we never pull up the ladder from any country. Rather, we have long been building up ladders so that countries could reach the higher together. China will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
The world today faces serious challenges. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East drag on, prolonging human suffering and economic turmoil. Global growth is slowing, and energy security remains fragile.
An old Irish proverb says: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine, which means through the shelter of each other, people survive and overcome every difficulty. In the face of global challenges, going it alone leads nowhere; only through solidarity and cooperation can we overcome them together.
This year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which outlines actions to expand high-standard opening-up and foster win-win cooperation. We are focusing on high-quality, green, and innovation-driven growth. China’s middle-income group is now as large as the population of the European Union, with annual retail sales reaching over 7.3 trillion USD. China’s door will never be closed. It will only open still wider.
As “China Opportunity 2.0” offers fresh potential to the world, China is glad to walk this path of shared prosperity with Ireland. We established diplomatic relations in 1979 and built a Strategic Partnership for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in 2012. Today, China is Ireland’s sixth-largest trading partner, with trade in goods and services each topping 20 billion EUR, and Chinese investment in Ireland reaching 12 billion EUR.
We have 8 pairs of sister cities and counties, and I am delighted to see local representatives here today, whose efforts strengthen the foundation of our people-to-people ties. We also have more than 50 joint education programs and direct flights connecting Dublin to Beijing and Shanghai every day.
During my two years in Ireland, I have seen how deep and warm our friendship is. Back in 1933, the literary encounter in Shanghai between Irish giant George Bernard Shaw and Lu Xun, the father of modern Chinese literature, became an irreplaceable meeting of minds in world literature. Today, young Irish authors like Sally Rooney are widely read by China’s “Gen Z” readers.
In 1935, Hu Xiansu, a pioneer of Chinese botany, forged a deep friendship with Michael Parsons, the 6th Earl of Rosse, sending seeds of native Chinese plants like the dawn redwood and camellias to Ireland. Today, that dawn redwood stands tall in the gardens of Birr Castle.
In 1976, the University College Dublin Soccer team became the first Western European sport team to visit China, embarking on a journey halfway around the globe with open minds, curiosity, and courage. This year, they embarked on a 50th-anniversary commemorative trip to China, renewing old ties with their Chinese friends.
These exchanges show that when people meet face-to-face, understanding naturally follows. Building on that spirit, I warmly welcome more Irish friends to take advantage of our visa-free policy, travel to China, experience different lifestyle , and enjoy the unique shopping for yourselves.
As we deepen our two countries’ friendship, we also look toward our shared future with Europe. Recently, the EU Delegation to China interviewed several young people, asking for three keywords to describe China-EU relations. One answer stood out to me: “Cooperation, cooperation, cooperation.” With Ireland holding the EU Presidency, there is a valuable opportunity to promote pragmatic cooperation and dialogue between EU and China.
Looking back at half a century of China-EU relations, mutual respect is the most valuable asset, mutual benefit is the most powerful impetus, multilateralism is the greatest unifying consensus, and cooperation partner is the most accurate characterization. Combined, China and the EU represent over one-third of the global economy. A healthy China-EU relationship benefits us both and brings stability to the whole world.
That commitment to global stability drives China’s support for the wider international system. China firmly supports the United Nations and international law. We are the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and send the most peacekeepers among the permanent Security Council members. China is currently bidding to host the Secretariat of the BBNJ Agreement in Xiamen, and stands ready to provide optimal working conditions to help fulfill the Agreement’s purpose and goals.
In carrying out these global responsibilities, China finds Ireland a like-minded partner. China is ready to work with other countries, including Ireland, to build a community with a shared future for humanity and make new contributions to world peace and development.
Now, I propose a toast:
To the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,
To the prosperity of China and Ireland,
To the friendship between our two peoples, and
To the health of everyone here today.
Sláinte!