Irish President polishes national image on China tour

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 10, 2003

Irish President polishes national image on China tour

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Visiting Irish President Mary McAleese said Friday in Beijing that she would like to be a "shopper" to buy some Chinese gifts, but she is more like a "saleswoman" to promote her own country to Chinese businesses.

At a breakfast for more than 400 business people from both sides, McAleese said she saw many shops and shoppers in Beijing, and she wanted to join in them and buy gifts. She joked that otherwise, her husband would be unhappy.

Meanwhile, she also promoted Ireland and clearly expressed Irish people's wishes to strengthen cooperation with China.

Although a small country with a small population, Ireland spent only 10 years in changing from a closed agricultural country into an open industrial nation oriented towards international trade, services and other industries, said McAleese.

McAleese enumerated three advantages in the cooperation on software, education and developing the market of the European Union (EU).

She said Ireland ranked among the world's top three software exporters, and as an English-speaking country, also had advanced English education level.

McAleese called Irish and Chinese students abroad in the two countries "informal ambassadors" to promote economic and cultural exchanges.

She said more Irish education institutes should come to China.

Ireland would assume the EU rotating presidency next year, said McAleese, and it would provide the best service for Chinese enterprises, and make its own efforts to help China to develop the EU market.

In her first visit to China since becoming president in 1997, McAleese came with the largest delegation of entrepreneurs in Irish history. This was a signal to show Irish entrepreneurs' great interest in the Chinese market and strong desire to develop trade with China, she noted.

Trade exchanges were conducive for the Chinese people to learn more about Ireland, and created new opportunities for the economic prosperity and mutual political benefit, she added.

Before McAleese arrived in China, she told the Chinese press that she would listen more, see more and learn more in China. Before leaving, she said she was glad to see China was full of vigor and vitality, had set up a market-oriented economic system, and become a source of momentum for the Asian economy and a major participant in international trade.

McAleese is visiting China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao.

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