48. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when she last spoke formally with the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland. [33091/26]

I have not yet met formally with the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. However officials in my Department engage frequently with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on a wide range of issues. Equally the Ambassador of Ireland to China and Embassy team in Beijing interact regularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese officials in Beijing and, as appropriate, with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland. The relationship is further supported by the work of my officials in the Consulates General of Ireland in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

At the very beginning of the year, the Taoiseach travelled to China for an official visit, and the Chinese Ambassador was present at a number of the meetings in Beijing. This visit by the Taoiseach was part of the Government’s commitment to build long-term, strategic relationships across the Asia Pacific region. The successful visit was an important opportunity for dialogue, based on our interests and values, across all aspects of our relationship – political, economic, cultural, diplomatic and people-to-people ties.

More recently, my colleague, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, met with the Chinese Ambassador ahead of his travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in March. This visit was part of the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day programme and included a series of engagements with political, business, civil society, cultural and diaspora leaders.