On behalf of the Irish government, Minister Howlin thanked Ambassador Luo Linquan for his tireless efforts in enhancing and strengthening the friendly relations between Ireland and China. He conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore, who was unable to host the luncheon due to illness, to Ambassador Luo and his wife.
Minister Howlin stated that during his tenure, Ambassador Luo witnessed the arduous efforts of the Irish government and its people in uniting to address the debt crisis and reverse the economic downturn. He facilitated and meticulously arranged the visit of then-Vice President Xi Jinping to Ireland, the visit of Prime Minister Enda Kenny to China, and numerous ministerial-level reciprocal visits, promoting the continuous expansion of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. These achievements are remarkable and worthy of recognition. Ireland-China relations are currently at their historical best. As Ireland's economic recovery gains momentum, there is great anticipation for further unlocking the potential of Ireland-China economic and trade cooperation. Last September, representing Ireland at the Summer Davos World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, and subsequently visiting Beijing, he was deeply impressed and encouraged by China's development achievements, particularly in infrastructure, as an Irish cabinet minister responsible for expenditure and infrastructure. He looks forward to visiting Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong next month to celebrate the Irish national holiday, "St. Patrick's Day," with the Irish diaspora.
Ambassador Luo expressed his gratification at having had the honor to witness and participate in several milestone events in the development of China-Ireland relations. He expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the Irish government's firm commitment to working with the Chinese side to build a China-Ireland reciprocal strategic partnership, and expressed optimism for the future of friendly cooperation between the two countries. He requested Minister Howlin to convey his greetings and gratitude to Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore, wishing Ireland an early and complete emergence from the shadow of the crisis to embark on a path of prosperity once again. He also sincerely wished for the friendship between China and Ireland to remain evergreen, continue to bear fruit, and benefit the people of both nations.
The Irish officials and members of the diplomatic corps present at the luncheon wished Ambassador Luo Linquan and his wife, Qiao Li, a safe journey back to China, and wished them happiness, success, and continued achievements in their future endeavors.