Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji started to hold talks with his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, Monday in Dublin.

The two premiers are expected to exchange views on ways of enhancing bilateral ties and economic cooperation as well as international issues of common concern. After the talks, they are expected to attend the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The two countries have witnessed increasingly close trade relations over recent years. In 2000, bilateral trade reached 713 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 70 percent over the previous year.

Premier Zhu arrived here Sunday for a four-day official visit. Ireland is the first leg of his four-nation tour which will also take him to Belgium, Russia and Kazakhstan.

(People's Daily 09/03/2001)