Zhang Zhili, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, met with Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, in Beijing on October 31. They exchanged views on advancing mutually beneficial agricultural cooperation between China and Ireland. 

Vice Minister Zhang said that China and Ireland have a mutually beneficial strategic partnership. The two countries have maintained close interactions in the agricultural sector and made significant progress in industrial cooperation, talent training, and economic and trade exchanges. He said that there is great potential for developing bilateral agricultural cooperation, and China is committed to an open and pragmatic approach and seeks to deepen cooperation with Ireland in areas such as agricultural investment, agro-trade, agricultural sci-tech innovation, talent exchange, and rural development.