Ireland's Micheál Martin will visit China in the first trip by an Irish leader in 14 years.

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin will make a five-day visit to China beginning Sunday and will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji; he will also travel to Shanghai. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the visit is intended to expand cooperation and foster China–EU relations amid recent trade tensions.

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin will visit China from Sunday for a five-day trip and is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced he will also meet Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji and will travel to Shanghai. This will be the first visit by an Irish leader to China in 14 years. The announcement comes as China has been engaging with individual EU leaders amid existing trade and political tensions. Known details: - The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the five-day visit and the planned meetings with Xi, Li Qiang and Zhao Leji. - The trip will include stops in Beijing and Shanghai. - The ministry said China is ready to work with Ireland to expand cooperation and foster China–EU relations. - In December, China imposed provisional tariffs as high as 42.7% on some EU dairy imports and has opened probes into EU brandy and pork as countermeasures related to EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. - Around the same time, China is also hosting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for a separate visit and has recently met other European leaders. Summary: Martin's visit is the first by an Irish head of government to China in 14 years and is presented by officials as part of bilateral and China–EU engagement. He will meet senior Chinese leaders in Beijing and visit Shanghai during the five-day trip. The visit takes place against a backdrop of recent trade measures and diplomatic contacts between China and several EU countries.