The newspapers of the state-controlled Chinese media placed around hotel lobbies in Shanghai heralded the apparent deepening ties with Ireland as Taoiseach Micheál Martin landed in the city home to some 25 million people cut through by the Huangpu River. China Daily, in its top news section on page three, told its readers that second-in-command of the politburo Li Qiang had expressed hope the previous day that with Ireland set to assume the European Council presidency this year it would “play an active role in promoting EU-China co-operation”.

Source: Irish Independent January 08, 2026 20:33 UTC