Hong Kong and the Republic of Ireland are to establish closer links, including the exchange of civil servants, following a meeting last night between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Hong Kong chief executive Mr Tung Chee Hwa.
The two leaders signed a deal to allow 100 under-30-year-olds from Ireland and Hong Kong to work in each other's jurisdictions for up to a year.
During last night's meeting in Government House in Chinese-controlled Hong Kong, Mr Tung repeatedly pressed the Taoiseach to open a consulate in the seven million-strong "Special Administrative Region".
Mr Ahern said the Government's priority was to establish full diplomatic offices in all of the new EU states, but he promised to consider the matter urgently, a spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, a team of Irish officials are to travel to Hong Kong to investigate how its highly-efficient port, the largest entrepot in Asia, operates.
Mr Tung said: "We would welcome more Irish businesses to use Hong Kong as the base for entering the huge mainland China market.
"Bilateral ties between Ireland and Hong Kong go back a long way. Hong Kong hosts the largest Irish community in Asia.
"We are particularly thankful for the enormous contribution that the Irish community has made towards the development of education here," he said.
The two leaders gave their imprimatur to a draft extradition agreement between Ireland and Hong Kong, which was requested by Hong Kong last July.
A further agreement allowing for the transfer of prisoners to jails in each other's jurisdictions is expected to follow.
The Irish Business and Employers' Confederation will today sign a co-operation agreement with its Hong Kong counterparts, HK Industries.
Earlier in the day, Mr Ahern attended an Enterprise Ireland breakfast for hundreds of Chinese business people in Shanghai.
Urging Chinese companies to trade with Irish counterparts, Mr Ahern said Ireland offered them an entry into Europe and trustworthy partnership.
The deals done so far during the week-long mission had "exceeded all predictions" by Enterprise Ireland.
China's growth in recent years had surpassed "all expectations" and it was "only a matter of time before China takes the No. 1 spot in the world", said Mr Ahern, who later met with the governor of Pudong Province, Mr Zhou Xiaochuan.
Today, Mr Ahern will attend another business breakfast in Hong Kong, witness the signature of the IBEC/HK Industries agreement and meet with the Hong Kong chief secretary, Mr Donald Tsang.
Later today, he will meet with the Canadian prime minister, Mr Paul Martin, who is also leading a trade mission to China this week.
Mr Ahern will attend a GAA All-Stars match in Hong Kong tonight which is expected to attract large numbers of Irish from throughout the region.
