China wants to deepen cooperation with Ireland and broaden trade in sectors including aircraft leasing and healthcare, according to a readout on Tuesday following Premier Li Qiang's meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who is visiting Beijing.

Martin's meeting with Li came a day after his summit with President Xi Jinping, part ‍of a five-day visit that the Irish leader said would have "a significant economic dimension" including talks ⁠on beef and dairy.

The readout also listed green energy and artificial intelligence as areas for enhanced cooperation.

Li described the two economies as "highly complementary" and called for upholding multilateralism and free trade, according to broadcaster CCTV late on Tuesday.

Xinhua News Agency also reported Li as saying that China stands ready to enhance communication and collaboration with Ireland in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, to jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade. (Reuters)