IRELAND REMAINED open for business and, despite the international economic crisis, the country retained vibrant financial and enterprise sectors and an environment highly favourable to investment, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told 500 guests at a business breakfast in the Chinese capital yesterday.
The Taoiseach also held talks with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao at Beijing's Great Hall of the People in a formal but friendly meeting that covered a wide range of issues of common interest.
Mr Cowen is leading a trade mission to China.
The difficulties over the medical card proposals in the Budget meant his arrival had to be postponed from Monday to Wednesday of this week.
"These are extraordinary times for the world and for Ireland," the Taoiseach told his audience at the Enterprise Ireland breakfast, which was held in a Beijing hotel.
"The global financial and economic crisis has demonstrated how interconnected our lives and livelihoods are with events far from our shores. Globalisation has never had more meaning than today."
But even taking all these difficulties into account, he assured his listeners that "there is a vibrant enterprise sector in Ireland which is world class in its capacity and performance".
"We have a thriving export sector which is underpinned by our rapidly evolving scientific, technological and innovation base," he added.
"Foreign direct investment remains a key factor and Ireland is committed to retaining a highly favourable environment in this regard."
Guests at the event included members of the 180-strong trade mission, which represents about 100 companies or educational institutions, as well as interested Chinese contacts.
Mr Cowen said: "The size of this trade mission, the diversity of sectors represented and the calibre of the participating companies all testify to the huge interest in China within Irish industry today.
"They are strong evidence of our keen desire to further accelerate the dynamic growth between our two countries that has been a dramatic feature of recent years.
"The objective of this trade mission is primarily to highlight Ireland's status as a world-class supplier of goods and services and to support Irish companies and their Chinese counterparts in building and strengthening relationships for the future.
"Many of the companies on this mission are already in the process of establishing solid market positions here and we see significant potential for building new and mutually beneficial relationships this year."
He added: "I welcome today's signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Irish Universities Association and the China Scholarship Council.
"This envisages a collaborative arrangement to provide high-quality research training in areas such as environmental science, information technology and nanotechnology to qualified students from Chinese universities.
"As a small nation, Ireland will, more than ever, have to look beyond its shores to forge strategic relationships with others, for our mutual benefit and the prosperity of our citizens. This will be a key element of our strategy to bring us beyond the current international economic and financial difficulties.
"My final message to you all here today is - Ireland remains open for business," the Taoiseach concluded.
