Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, is this week hosting a visit from Chinese Vice Minister Gao Hongbin, from the Chinese Agriculture Ministry.

Following his arrival on Tuesday, Vice Minister Gao and his delegation attended a meeting and working dinner with Minister Coveney in the D�il to discuss plans for deepening co-operation in a number of areas. On the question of beef market access Minister Goa confirmed that arrangements are being made by the Chinese authorities to send a full technical team to Ireland in the next four weeks to examine at first hand the controls applying to beef production. Minister Coveney welcomed this very significant step forward and expressed confidence that the Irish control system would provide the necessary reassurances to the Chinese experts.

Minister Goa is scheduled to visit the Teagasc Animal and Grassland and Food Research Centre in Moorepark, Fermoy later today, where he will be given an overview of the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation programme and will be shown the extensive research facilities in Moorepark. The Vice Minister will also visit an export-approved beef plant. Minister Gao�s visit follows on from Minister Coveney�s successful trade mission to China last month, when it was agreed that the he would come to Ireland with a view to fostering increased cooperation and understanding in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and food.

As well as meeting with Minister Coveney, Minister Gao, who has responsibility for animal husbandry, will have an opportunity to see the best that Irish grass-based farm production systems can offer in terms of producing high quality meat and dairy products, and will get an overview of Irish expertise in production research and food safety.