Tánaiste Simon Harris has raised the issue of Irish beef exports to China during a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi.

The Tánaiste hosted a visit from the Chinese minister this morning (Monday, February 17) in Dublin.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed a range of topics including bilateral relations, EU-China relations, multilateral engagement and regional and international issues.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said that he was pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Wang to Dublin, following their respective engagements at the Munich Security Conference.

“Both Ireland, and the EU more broadly, have a comprehensive economic relationship with China.

"I stressed our interest in maintaining and strengthening that relationship, on the basis of the global multilateral trading system, with transparent, equitable and mutually agreed parameters and a level playing field.

"I also took the opportunity to raise a number of trade issues of importance to Ireland and requested that the Chinese authorities allow the resumption of access for Irish beef to China," the Tánaiste said.

In October, shipments of beef products to China and South Korea from Ireland were temporarily stopped after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a cow here.

The animal was tested in mid-September, and on foot of those results authorities in China and South Korea were informed and exports of beef halted, in line with the agreements in place with both countries.

Atypical BSE occurs sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and is not considered a public health risk.

This marked the third time that Irish beef exports to China have been stopped due to a case of atypical BSE.

In December, the suspension of Irish beef exports to South Korea was lifted allowing for the return of Irish beef products to that market.

However, the suspension of Irish beef exports to China still remains in place.

The Tánaiste noted that 2025 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between the European Union and China.

"The past few years have seen significant EU-China dialogue covering political, economic and technological connections.

"We hope that further progress can be made on issues such as digital, trade, the environment, human rights and other topics, as building blocks towards a substantial EU-China Summit this year," he said.

During the meeting, the Tánaiste also raised "Ireland’s long held concerns around the human rights situation in China, particularly around the National Security Law in Hong Kong, and the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang and elsewhere".

Discussions between the ministers also focused on the ongoing situations in Ukraine and in the Middle East.