Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin commenced a five-day visit to China, aiming to bolster trade and diplomatic relations. This marks the first visit by an Irish leader since 2012. Martin is set to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss bilateral trade, global challenges like peace and security, and the trading environment. The visit is also significant as Ireland prepares to assume the EU presidency, with Martin emphasizing the importance of strong EU-China relations and multilateral institutions.