Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, welcomed Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, on the runway at Dublin Airport on his arrival for a visit to Ireland.rolling news
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived at Dublin Airport on Tuesday night ahead of a short visit to Ireland that included talks with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and President Michael D. Higgins on Wednesday.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Ireland aboard a Boeing 747-8, the largest commercial aircraft ever to land at Dublin Airport, according to the airport’s social media accounts.
Dublin Airport said in a statement on Stated.
The Chinese Prime Minister was received at Dublin Airport by Environment Minister and Green Party leader Eamonn Ryan.
“It was a pleasure to greet Chinese Premier Li Qiang upon his arrival in Ireland at Dublin Airport this evening,” Ryan said in a statement on X.
He is scheduled to meet Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House on Wednesday afternoon.
The two men are scheduled to discuss global issues, bilateral issues and relations between the EU and China during their meeting on Wednesday.
Li is the second-highest ranking official in China’s political system and previously served as Communist Party leader in Shanghai, the country’s largest city. He is a close ally of President Xi Jinping.
Meanwhile, President Michael D. Higgins is scheduled to receive Prime Minister Lee at Arras an Uachtaline on Wednesday morning.
An Garda Síochána announced that Phoenix Park will be closed to traffic until 7pm on Wednesday following Mr Lee’s visit, and that there will also be a phased closure at Dublin Airport.
here! A very special moment when Air China flight CCA001 arrives at Dublin Airport. It is the largest passenger plane to land at Dublin Airport in Air China’s 84-year history. I am pleased to be able to facilitate Prime Minister Li Qiang’s visit to Ireland. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/d500hBAR3n
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) January 16, 2024
Mr Lee, who spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, is scheduled to leave Ireland on Wednesday afternoon after meeting Mr Varadkar.
His visit will be the first by a Chinese prime minister to visit Ireland since Li’s predecessor Li Keqiang visited in 2015.
President Xi Jinping, who is in his third term, also visited Ireland in 2012, the year before he took office.