Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived at Dublin International Airport to start his official visit to Ireland at the invitation of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Tuesday.

Eamon Ryan, Ireland's minister for the environment, climate and communications and minister for transport, and He Xiangdong, Chinese ambassador to Ireland, welcomed Li at the airport.

Li Qiang noted that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland. Over the past 45 years, China and Ireland's relationship has served as a model of friendly coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different historical and cultural backgrounds and different political systems with mutual respect and equal treatment, he added.

Li said that under the strategic leadership and joint efforts of the leaders of the two countries, China-Ireland relations have maintained healthy and stable development, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results, especially in recent years.

Noting that China and Ireland share similar development concepts and converging interests, Li said China stands ready to work with Ireland to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push forward the China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve new results and continuously benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Li arrived in Ireland after attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 and paying an official visit to Switzerland.