At 15:00, May 7, 2021, Beijing time, the ICAOI Irish Brand Promotion Event and Signing Ceremony was successfully held at the first China International Consumer Product Expo through on-site and video means. Deputy Damien English, TD, Minister of State for Business, Employment & Retail of Ireland, Dr. Ann Derwin, Ambassador of Ireland to China, Cllr Pat Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Ireland, Ms. Yongxia Ma, Vice Chairwoman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Hainan Committee, Mr. Xiangdong He, Ambassador of China to Ireland, and nearly 100 representatives from Chinese and Irish political and business communities and enterprises attended this event. Prior to the meeting, Mr. Danyang Shen, Executive Vice Governor of Hainan Province, had a cordial meeting with Ambassador Ann Derwin and representatives of ICAOI.
Executive Vice Governor Danyang Shen and Ambassador Ann Derwin took a photo together prior to the meeting.
A group photo was taken of the distinguished guests attending the event prior to the meeting.
Dr. Yupeng Liu, Chairman of ICAOI firstly extended his welcome and sincere thanks to all the distinguished guests attending the conference. Chairman Liu said that there is a solid foundation of co-operation between Hainan, China and Ireland, as the geographic environment, business environment, and industrial system positioning in Hainan, China and Ireland are very similar, paving the way for deep collaboration across diverse areas. The expo provided a valuable opportunity for Irish enterprises to have a further understanding of the creation and structure of the Hainan Free Trade Port. ICAOI will work with all partners to jointly promote the industrial and commercial exchanges between Ireland and Hainan, China.
Dr. Yupeng Liu, Chairman of ICAOI delivered a welcome speech.
Deputy Damien English, TD, Minister of State for Business, Employment & Retail of Ireland said that Ireland and China enjoy a mutually beneficial trade relationship that has grown steadily over the years. Agri-food and beverages are very important aspects of Ireland's exports and trade. Ireland has established a strict product quality control system. Ireland's Shannon Free Trade Zone, the world's first free trade zone, has served as a reference for China's Special Economic Zones and Ireland wished the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port every success.
Minister English delivered a speech.
Ambassador Ann Derwin commended the work and efforts of ICAOI in promoting the Irish brand in China. She said that the expo provides a great opportunity for Irish brands to reach China and the world. China has long been Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia. The Chinese government focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, high-tech industry, green economy, sustainable urbanisation, etc., while Ireland is strong in these areas. In the future, Ireland is willing to join hands with China to create new economic success for both countries.
Ambassador Ann Derwin delivered a speech.
Ambassador He said that bilateral trade between China and Ireland will overcome the adverse impact of the epidemic and hit a new high in 2020. In the first quarter of this year, the trade volume between China and Ireland reached 5.2 billion US dollars, up 29.6% year on year, among which Ireland's export to China reached 4.2 billion US dollars, up 24.1%. China is Ireland's largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region and the fifth largest trading partner in the world. China is the world's largest market for consumer goods. The establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the hosting of the China International Consumer Product Expo demonstrates China's determination to deepen reform and will provide an important new platform for businesses from all over the world, including Ireland, to enter the Chinese market. China is ready to work with Ireland to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade co-operation for the benefit of the people in these two countries.
Ambassador He delivered a speech.
Chairwoman Ma first expressed warm congratulations to ICAOI for its active participation in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the signing of the Memorandum of Strategic Co-operation with Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development and other organisations. She pointed out that Hainan and Ireland have a sound basis for co-operation, and in particular, the bilateral relations between Hainan and County Wicklow have developed greatly since the establishment of bilateral relations. This event organized by ICAOI will further deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the two countries. The Chairwoman sincerely extended invites to Irish companies to invest in Hainan, enjoy the development opportunities and fruits of Hainan, and make new contributions to China-Ireland relations.
Chairwoman Ma delivered a speech.
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Jin Li, Chief Representative of ICAOI in China, and Mr. Shanhua Yang, Deputy Director of Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, signed the Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation in the presence of distinguished guests, which laid a solid foundation for ICAOI and its member companies to better integrate into the development and construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Mr. Jin Li, Chief Representative of ICAOI in China, and Mr. Shanhua Yang, Deputy Director of Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, signed the Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation.
A Memorandum of Strategic Co-operation was signed between the representatives of the ICAOI Chinese partners and Mr. Jin Li, Chief Representative of ICAOI in China. In the future, all parties will work together for the promotion and publicity of Irish brands in the Chinese market.
A Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation was signed between the representatives of the ICAOI Chinese partners and Mr. Jin Li, Chief Representative of ICAOI in China.
After the signing ceremony, Yupeng Liu, Chairman of ICAOI, said in an exclusive interview with the Economic Daily that the expo will be the key for Irish enterprises to open the Chinese market. It is hoped that through the two platforms of the expo and ICAOI, Chinese consumers can feel the local customs and culture of Ireland, and Irish enterprises can have an in-depth understanding of the Chinese market and consumers' demand for imported consumer goods, so as to find a mutual outlet for promoting co-operation.
