Former Irish PM stresses key role of diplomacy

Diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges can play a big role in securing global stability amid geopolitical and trade tensions, said former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern.

Responding to a question about the European Commission's additional tariffs on made-in-China electric vehicles, the former Irish prime minister, who was in office from 1997 to 2008, said: "I know that at times it is a bit difficult, but I think it's important that people keep talking, keep diplomacy, keep working, keep explaining each other's positions, and hopefully that (China-Europe relations) can be enhanced and can grow."

The EU voted on Friday to impose punitive tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China.

Ahern said he will visit Beijing this week to attend the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

"The best way of dealing with things is through friendship, dialogue and understanding of our different positions. The association is really good at doing that, and I'm very supportive of their good work," he said.

Recalling when he led Ireland's biggest trade delegation to China in 2005, Ahern said Ireland is a great believer in diplomacy, exchanges of people, and trade. "Hopefully, we can continue to develop that and to grow into the years ahead," he said.

After Ahern left the Irish parliament in 2011, he joined the InterAction Council, an independent organization that brings together former leaders to provide recommendations on global issues, and he encouraged the experts of the council to form joint groups with their Chinese colleagues to study development problems, such as poverty alleviation, public health and climate change.

A frequent visitor to China, Ahern has witnessed the development in the country. "Since I started going to China in the late 1990s, I've seen the technological, cultural and educational achievements — it's been a remarkable success story for China," he said.

Applauding the unilateral visa-free policy that China applied to Ireland in January, Ahern said it was warmly welcomed by the Irish public, and that people-to-people exchanges and cooperation hold the key for nations with different backgrounds to develop relations.

"It allowed more and more Irish people to travel directly to China and allowed us to build our contacts and relationships," he said. "There are many Chinese people studying and working in Ireland now. And I've always been very supportive of Chinese business coming to Ireland and Irish doing business in China."

Ahern also praised China's positive role in the world by contributing Chinese wisdom to promote peace and development.

"China has put forward many excellent proposals and initiatives," said Ahern.

"Tremendous advancements and progress have been made over these decades in China … I congratulate the country's people and its leaders for what it has achieved," he said.