Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen in Beijing on Thursday morning, who is to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on Oct. 24 to 25.

Wen said the year of 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Irish diplomatic relations, which gave the two nations an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and trust through different-level dialogues.

Wen was deeply impressed by the development zone and IT industry during his visit to Ireland in 2004, when he was warmly received by the Irish government and people, he said.

Ireland had great advantage in IT technology, while China had been adjusting its industrial structure and upgrading its products. The two nations should continue exploring new fields and ways of cooperation and strengthening personnel exchange, he said.

Cowen said the Irish government had taken China as the core nation of its Asian strategy and the Sino-Irish relations had been further strengthened in recent years with the frequent exchange visits of government leaders.

Ireland would like to work with China to tap the potentials for further cooperation and deepen exchanges and cooperation in trade, science and technology, education, culture, service industry, finance and agriculture, said the Irish Prime Minister.

Ireland also hoped that the two sides will make good efforts in holding activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Irish diplomatic relations, he said.

Established as a high-level forum between governments of Asia and Europe, the ASEM this year is expected to focus on how to respond to the current global financial crisis, rather than the earlier planned topics like climate change, sustainable development and energy security.

The Beijing Summit will be the first gathering for leaders of ASEM members since the body's enlargement to 45 members in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2008)