On January 19, 2005, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) met with Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in the Great Hall of the People.

Wu said that over the 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ireland the bilateral relations have been developing steadily. Both countries conduct sound cooperation on many international and regional issues. He added that since the reform and opening up China has scored outstanding social and economic progresses, and meanwhile Ireland has also accomplished the transition from the agro-pastoral economy to the knowledge economy, creating favorable conditions for both sides to strengthen cooperation in various fields. The NPC of China supports the development of China-Ireland relations and hopes to strengthen the cooperation of the legislatures of both countries in jointly promoting the all-round development of bilateral relations.

Ahern noted that his visit is a success during which both sides have reached wide common consensus on furthering bilateral relations. He said that China has scored major achievements in legal construction. Ireland attaches importance to the exchanges and cooperation of the legislatures of both countries and hopes that both sides strengthen contact, enhance mutual understanding and work together to promote bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and trade and other areas.