On December 8, 2025, Vice President Sun Xueqing of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister of the Northern Ireland Local Government and her delegation.
Vice President Sun Xueqing extended a warm welcome to Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and her delegation to China, introducing the key points of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He emphasized that China is committed to advancing high-quality development and a high level of opening-up, and expressed China's willingness to share opportunities and promote mutual development with countries around the world. He also highlighted the CPAFFC's strong commitment to fostering practical cooperation and friendly city exchanges with regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland Vice President Sun Xueqing expressed appreciation for the longstanding positive cooperation with the Northern Ireland local government and reiterated the CPAFFC's readiness to strengthen these partnerships by building more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, thereby promoting steady and long-term cooperation between China and the UK at the subnational level.
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald highly praised the CPAFFC's important role in advancing subnational cooperation and friendly city exchanges between China and the UK. She shared Northern Ireland's unique economic and trade position, as well as its ongoing cooperation with China in areas such as economy, education, and cultural tourism. Caoimhe Archibald expressed her desire to further develop friendly relations with China, expand channels for exchange and cooperation, and share development opportunities.
Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC and Kerry Curran, representative of the Northern Ireland Local Government in China, were present at the meeting.
