China and Ireland have agreed in Dublin to strengthen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, education, high-tech, biological engineering, agriculture and animal husbandry.

During their talks Tuesday night, visiting Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju and Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Mary Harney also agreed to keep constant bilateral high-level contacts, and enhance exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments, governments and sister cities of the two countries.

They expressed their satisfaction with the positive progress made in bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, trade, education, science, technology, culture and health.

Huang said the Chinese side will take an active part in Ireland's infrastructural construction. They also discussed Chinese software industry's cooperation in Ireland.

Harney said the Irish side will continue to encourage Irish investment in China and it also welcomes Chinese investment to facilitate Chinese business' entry into the European market.

The two governments also signed a memorandum of understanding on health cooperation after Huang's talks with Harney on Tuesday.

At a meeting here Wednesday between Huang and Irish Education Minister Mary Hanafin and heads of Irish colleges and universities, both sides agreed to conduct cooperation in academic research, information technology, biology, financial services, personnel training and language teaching.

Huang arrived here Tuesday on an official visit at the invitation of the Government of Ireland, which is the second leg of his four-nation tour.

He had visited Luxembourg before arriving here and he is also scheduled to visit Turkey and Egypt.