China’s Ambassador Urges Irish Dairy Industry to Adapt to Changing Market Demands
China’s Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. He Xiangdong, has called on the Irish dairy industry to adapt to changing market demands in order to enhance trade between both countries. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr. He emphasized the need for producers to closely monitor and respond to shifts in the Chinese market. He highlighted that while exports of baby formula from Ireland to China have declined due to factors such as a low birth rate and a more saturated market, there is an opportunity for the Irish dairy industry to focus on producing specialized nutrition products for the aging population in China.
Last year, Irish exports of infant formula to China accounted for €266m out of the country’s total exports of €722m. Mr. He encouraged Irish dairy producers to explore and adapt to the changing demands of the Chinese market, emphasizing that there is a potential market for other dairy products catering to adults and senior citizens. He believes that by diversifying their product offerings, Irish dairy producers can promote more exports to China.
Mr. He also drew attention to the housing issues faced by Chinese students in Ireland. He highlighted that the lack of affordable housing and problems with landlords are impacting Chinese students studying in the country. Affordable housing, according to Mr. He, is a crucial factor in attracting more Chinese students to choose Ireland as their study destination. He mentioned that although similar issues exist in other countries such as Australia and the UK, it is essential for Ireland to address this problem to maintain its attractiveness to Chinese students.
Mr. He further discussed the strong bilateral trade relationship between Ireland and China. China is among the major trading partners for Ireland in the EU, while Ireland is China’s fourth-largest trading partner. Over 40 Chinese companies operate in Ireland, with total Chinese direct investment in the country exceeding €9.2bn. In comparison, Irish investment in China stands at €2bn.
Addressing recent comments by Tánaiste Micheál Martin about the need to assess the relationship with China and de-risk certain areas, Mr. He expressed confusion and called for a more objective understanding of the bilateral relationship. He emphasized that there are no fundamental risks to economic and trade ties between China and Ireland.
Mr. He also addressed concerns related to Chinese companies’ involvement in espionage, stating that the Chinese government and companies have never engaged in such activities. He attributed concerns to misinformation and what he referred to as American or European fever. He emphasized the importance of open communication and mutual understanding between the two countries to address these issues.
Overall, Mr. He expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations between China and Ireland, but also highlighted the potential for both countries to further promote and strengthen their relationship. He quoted John Hume, former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stating that differences between nations should not be a source of conflict but rather respected as an essential aspect of humanity.
In conclusion, Mr. He’s recommendations for the Irish dairy industry to adapt to changes in the Chinese market and address housing issues for Chinese students reflect his efforts to strengthen trade and bilateral relations between China and Ireland.
