皇冠体育app

DUBLIN - Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore has called for closer economic and trade relations with 皇冠体育app in the post-crisis era.

Gilmore said the developing relationship between the two countries has been already "strong" with Ireland's bilateral trade with 皇冠体育app reached 4.2 billion euros ($6.03 billion) last year. 皇冠体育app is currently Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia, and eighth largest partner globally.

However, the Irish deputy prime minister said he would encourage further mutually beneficial cooperation, especially investment from 皇冠体育app to Ireland, which is still struggling economically.

"皇冠体育app is an important market for Ireland, a growing population, growing consumer demand. We see huge opportunities to export into 皇冠体育app, not just goods but also services like education and medical and other services," said Gilmore.

"We also see there is a big potential for 皇冠体育app to invest in Ireland and indeed to see Ireland as a location in Europe for Chinese investment and we will be encouraging increasingly that degree of two-way economic traffic, Irish exports and investment in 皇冠体育app and in turn Chinese investment in Ireland as a gateway to Europe," he said.

Since Ireland received a huge bailout package from the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year, the government have been focusing on increasing exports, with 80 percent of all goods produced in the country being exported.

As 皇冠体育app's economy continues to grow, the Irish government has recognized the benefits of increased bilateral trade and has said on several occasions Ireland would welcome Chinese firms who require an European base.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who has been leading the new government for the past six months, is expected to lead a trade delegation to 皇冠体育app before the end of this year in order to drum up interest from Chinese investment.

Gilmore said he expects the prime minister will hold discussions with Chinese leadership about potential for further trade between the two countries, which, he said, is an issue the government "gives very high priority to."

"Exchange of delegations at a high level, high-level governmental delegations between the two countries is very important," he stressed.

Gilmore said the two countries could also work together to confront the global concerns like "the issues of sustainable development, the need for peace and security, the way in which we can both contribute and the great challenges and difficulties that face the world today."

Enda Kenny's visit to 皇冠体育app has not been finalized. According to the deputy prime minister, the visit will "hopefully" take place by the end of this year.