Politics

Chinese foreign minister to visit Ireland next week amid Trump uncertainty over international alignment

Wang Yi is second senior Chinese political figure to visit in just over a year

Micheál Martin met Wang Yi on a visit to Beijing in 2023 as minister for foreign affairs. Photograph: Phil Behan/DFA
Micheál Martin met Wang Yi on a visit to Beijing in 2023 as minister for foreign affairs. Photograph: Phil Behan/DFA
Denis Staunton
Mon Feb 10 2025 - 17:54

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi will visit Ireland next week amid signs of a shift in the European Union’s approach to Beijing following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Mr Wang is the second top-level Chinese political figure to visit Ireland in just over a year, following a trip by premier Li Qiang in January 2024.

“Ireland is China’s strategic partner for mutually beneficial co-operation. Over recent years, bilateral relations have enjoyed a sound growth momentum,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

“Last year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. As the new government of Ireland was just formed, China hopes that foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit will bring the two countries closer together for greater consensus, more co-operation and deeper friendship, so as to realise better and faster growth of the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial co-operation and contribute to the sound and steady development of China-Europe relations.”

[ US and China teeter on edge of trade war as tariff deadline looms ]

The Chinese foreign minister is expected to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin as well as Tánaiste Simon Harris when he is in Dublin on Sunday and Monday. Mr Martin met Mr Wang when he visited Beijing as minister for foreign affairs in November 2023.

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Ireland is unusual among EU member states in enjoying a trade surplus with China and recent years have seen an increase in Chinese investment in the country. Technology giants TikTok, Temu and Shein are among the Chinese firms that have established European headquarters in Dublin.

After a number of years during which the EU focused on the risks involved in its relationship with China, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week signalled a willingness to engage more closely with Beijing. She hinted at a possible reopening of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) which was put on ice as relations worsened.

“We will keep de-risking our economic relationship – as we have been doing in recent years. But there is also room to engage constructively with China – and find solutions in our mutual interest,” Ms von der Leyen told EU diplomats in Brussels.

“I think we can find agreements that could even expand our trade and investment ties. It is a fine line that we need to walk. But it can lead us to a fairer and more balanced relationship with one of the world’s economic giants. And that can make sense for Europe.”

The shift in tone follows Mr Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports and his threat to do the same with the EU.

Mr Wang, who is also a member of the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is attending the Munich Security Conference this week. Before coming to Dublin on Sunday, he will visit London for talks with his British counterpart David Lammy, who was in Beijing last year.

Denis Staunton

Denis Staunton

Denis Staunton is China Correspondent of The Irish Times