Top legislator holds talks with Irish parliament leaders

BEIJING - Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang held talks with Irish parliamentary leaders Sean Barrett and Paddy Burke on Tuesday.

Sean Barrett, speaker of Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, and Paddy Burke, chairman of Seanad Eireann, the upper house of the Irish parliament, are paying a week-long visit to China as the guests of Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

During the talks, Zhang hailed the development of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1979, and especially since the two sides agreed to establish a strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation in 2012.

Zhang called for the Irish side to play an even greater role in cementing the relationship between China and Europe, as Ireland holds the European Union's rotating presidency for the first half of this year.

China will continue to support Ireland and other EU members in their efforts to address the debt crisis and realize economic recovery, Zhang said.

Lauding Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann's commitment to developing the China-Ireland relationship, Zhang said the NPC attaches great importance to its ties with the Irish Parliament and will work together with the Irish side to exchange ideas on creating laws, expanding practical cooperation, and promoting region-to-region and people-to-people interactions.

Echoing Zhang, the Irish parliamentary leaders said Ireland regards China as an important partner and the Irish Parliament will make joint efforts with the NPC to boost cooperation and strengthen the friendship between the two nations.