THE GREAT MICHEAL OF THE PEOPLE

Taoiseach pushing Irish case to top Chinese leaders

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN in Beijing

MICHEAL Martin has said there are major benefits for Ireland as well as Europe in his high-level trade mission to China.

The Taoiseach has met with the three most powerful politicians in the country, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.

He accepted EU issues were a major focus of his hosts ahead of Ireland taking over the presidency of the bloc this year.

However, he insisted national issues such as access to the vast Chinese market for Irish beef were also on his agenda.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Martin said: “On the bilateral front, we again pressed for the reopening of the market to beef products and we raised issues pertaining to the position of tariffs on dairy products.