Trade development featured at the first talks on Monday between Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who is on a four-day visit to Ireland, the two leaders said.

Zhu is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ireland. Ahern invited him in 1998 when he became the first Irish leader to visit China.

The two leaders pledged to build on rapidly growing trade links, to strengthen cooperation on technological developments and to facilitate exchange of management and scientific personnel.

Irish exports to China grew by 40 percent last year and by 75 percent so far this year. There will be 16 trade delegation exchanges between the countries this year.

An agreement was signed involving a programme of visits by heads of cultural institutions and for festivals of culture to be held in both countries.

After their talks, Ahern told a joint press conference with Zhu they had also discussed human rights during their meetings.

"I want to thank the premier for listening to my frank position on behalf of the Irish people and for him giving me such clear responses," Ahern said.

Zhu, who is travelling with a 150-member delegation, including five ministers, also met President Mary McAleese. He is scheduled later to attend a state dinner in Dublin Castle.

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxun is to have talks with his Irish counterpart, Brian Cowen, on a range of international issues, including the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the HIV/Aids crisis in Africa.

China and Ireland are both members of the UN Security Council and Ireland takes over the chairmanship in October.

Zhu travels to Belgium on Wednesday and will later visit Russia and the former Soviet central Asian state of Kazakhstan.

(Chinadaily.com.cn 09/04/2001)