Ahern in China in effort to boost exports

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — Bertie Ahern is currently in the middle of a five-day trip to China — the first ever by a taoiseach and the first of six visits this autumn planned by European prime ministers and the president of the European Commission.

One of the main aims of the visit is to examine ways of redressing the huge trade imbalance. Accompanying the taoiseach is Minister for International Trade Tom Kitt and a 26-strong trade delegation representing leading companies.

Last year, Ireland imported £316 million worth of goods from China — excluding Hong Kong — while only £34 million worth of good was exported.

"The potential to improve the balance of trade in our favor is clearly enormous," Ahern said.

Trade and diplomatic officials and senior executives from food, information technology, aviation and aviation services sectors, who are already active in the Chinese market, are exploring new business opportunities.

Ahern said the visit would consolidate the already good bilateral relations between the countries.

Ireland and China shared the same goals of seeking greater prosperity for their people and he hoped the visit would help to build strong and long-term trade links, the taoiseach said.

During his trip, Ahern is visiting Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

In Beijing on Monday, he met his Chinese counterpart Premier Zhu Rongji, and also had informal discussions with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson.

Former President Robinson is the first UN human rights commissioner to visit China. She has also visited Tibet.

Ahern paid a courtesy call on President Jiang Zemin on Tuesday and held meetings with ministers and heads of state agencies.

After a visit to the Great Wall Wednesday, he is to traveled to Shanghai, where he will meet the mayor, Xu Kuangdi, business leaders and local trade authorities.

He is also to hold a reception in a local "Irish" pub and visit the Shanghai stock exchange and the new business and industrial center at Pudong.

In Hong Kong on Friday, he plans to meet chief executive Tung Cheeh Hwa and opposition leader Martin Lee and members of the legislative council.