Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and his delegation on Jan 8.

Gong said that since Shanghai established a friendship city relationship with Cork in Ireland, the two sides have carried out extensive and pragmatic cooperation, delivering positive and tangible results.

He called for stronger exchanges and cooperation across the economy, trade and investment, education, science and technology, as well as culture and tourism, with a view to achieving higher-level mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, while enhancing the well-being of people on both sides.

Martin praised Shanghai as an open and inclusive city with a rich historical and cultural heritage and significant global influence.

He noted that Ireland and China, particularly Shanghai, enjoy broad prospects for cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, financial services, scientific research and development, biomedicine, renewable energy, as well as education and culture.

Noting that Shanghai has created a favorable environment for Irish businesses, he expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to promote economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges, further deepen friendship, and pursue common development.