Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to join you here today. I wish to thank you sincerely for the warm welcome extended to my wife Sabina and I, and to the entire Irish delegation, since our arrival in China – a welcome that reflects the great hospitality of the Chinese people and the real ties of friendship that exist between our two nations.

On behalf of our hosts – Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, and Enterprise Ireland – I am, in my turn, delighted to…