Zhang Chunxian (R), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, shakes hands with Pat the Cope Gallagher, deputy speaker of Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, in Dublin, capital of Ireland, July 9, 2019. A delegation headed by Zhang on Wednesday wrapped up a visit to Ireland, which was aimed at further promoting the relations between the two countries. (Xinhua) 

DUBLIN -- A delegation headed by Zhang Chunxian, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, on Wednesday wrapped up a visit to Ireland, which aims to further promote the bilateral relations between the two countries. 

During the four-day visit, Zhang Chunxian held talks separately with Pat the Cope Gallagher, deputy speaker of Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, and Simon Coveney, Irish deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and trade. 

During the talks, Zhang said that not long ago the Chinese president and the Chinese premier respectively exchanged greetings with their Irish counterparts to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Ireland, which fell on June 22. 

The Chinese side is willing to take this opportunity to work together with the Irish side in jointly building the Belt and Road, deepening cooperation in the areas including economy, trade, investment, technology innovation, green development and social programs, strengthening the contacts between the legislatures of the two sides, promoting the people-to-people exchanges so as to achieve a greater development in the China-Ireland mutually beneficial strategic partnership as well as the China-Europe relations in the new era, he said. 

The Irish side told the Chinese delegation that the current relationship between Ireland and China is growing strongly. They also said that Ireland firmly supports multilateralism, views China's development as a significant opportunity for Ireland, and is willing to actively participate in the international cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative and serve as a gateway for Chinese businesses to enter the European Union. 

The Chinese delegation arrived here on Sunday for a visit at the invitation of the Irish parliament.