Comrades and Friends of Socialist China:
It is a great honour to address you today at this important gathering of esteemed company, hosted by my dear comrades in ‘Friends of Socialist China’. I bring warm revolutionary greetings from the Communist Party of Ireland and express our deep solidarity with the People’s Republic of China, with the Chinese people, and with the Communist Party of China. The Communist Party of Ireland values its fraternal relations with the Communist Party of China. These ties are not transactional—they are
built on mutual respect, shared ideological foundations, and a commitment to building socialism in our respective contexts. Over the 46 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our
republics, China and Ireland have deepened exchanges and cooperation across politics, economy, science and technology, and culture, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples.
We meet here at a time when the achievements of Chinese socialism are not only undeniable but are increasingly vital to the future of human civilisation and the survival of our delicate, global eco-system. From lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty to leading the world in green development and technological innovation, China stands as a beacon of what is possible when a proud and resilient people chart their own course, guided by socialist principles and a commitment to national sovereignty. As an Irish comrade, I am struck by the historical parallels between our two nations. Both Ireland and China have endured the long shadow of imperialism. While we have yet to win the Irish people to socialism, we like our comrades in the PRC have fought for national liberation, and we both continue to face the task of national reunification—China with Taiwan and Ireland with the Six Counties still under British occupation
and imperialist rule. Ireland remains trapped in a Triple Lock of imperialism with a comprador capitalist class subservient to the economic and increasingly militaristic diktats of London, Brussels and Washington. We suffer under British colonial occupation of our national territory in the north east, making us an unwilling NATO member at a very dangerous time to be part of that expansionist alliance.
The Republic of Ireland’s economic policy is subjugated to the needs of both the neoliberal orthodoxies of a resurgent, German-led, European empire and US-dominated foreign direct investment. Witness the Irish governments reluctance, obduracy and foot-dragging in implementing the ‘Occupied Territories Bill’ to curb investment and trade with the genocidal Zionist regime. Leading figures among the Irish
American capitalist class warned of the doomsday scenario and dire economic consequences of showing any tangible or even tokenistic opposition to Zionism and the ongoing genocide. Consequently, the
clientelist Irish state has impeded the progress of The Bill and continues to sanction multi-million-euro exports of dual use goods with potential military application to Israeli weapons companies. That’s before we even mention the continuing use of Shannon Airport in the west of Ireland for US military stopovers and the facilitation of flights through Irish airspace carrying US weapons of war to genocide killing fields and secret renditions of god knows what or indeed who! Sovereignty and anti-imperialism are not therefore merely geopolitical questions.
They are questions of dignity, of human rights and of justice. And they remind us that the struggle against imperialism is not a relic of the past—it is a living, ongoing reality. Our comrades in the People’s Republic of China know this all too well. Recently they celebrated the 80th anniversary of their glorious victory over the fascistic Japanese forces and their contribution to the defeat of fascism in the Second Imperialist World War. Today we celebrate China’s 76th National Day and commemorate Chairman Mao’s formal proclamation of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. CPI–CPC Relations: A Fraternal Bond Since my first visit to China as a guest of the International Department of the CPC in 2023, attending the Third Communist Party Leaders Delegation of North American, Oceanic and Nordic Countries, I have returned twice—on my own volition—in 2024 and again in 2025. These journeys have taken me far beyond the conference halls and urban centres, deep into the heart of China’s diverse provinces: Henan, Beijing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Guangdong. The visits have left a profound impression on me.
I witnessed firsthand the dynamism of Chinese society, the seriousness with which the CPC approaches governance, and the deep-rooted pride of the Chinese people in their socialist path. My visits to the PRC have only deepened my appreciation for the scale and ambition of China’s development. Whether in economic and technological progress, rural revitalisation, ecological protection, public service development, or international solidarity, China is not simply reacting to global challenges—it is shaping the very future of our world.
I walked through bustling cities, quiet towns, and remote mountain villages. In each, I marvelled at the progress made by the Communist Party of China—not only in technological and infrastructural development, but in ecological restoration, education and healthcare access, appreciation of cultural diversity and the dignity of everyday life. In May 2025, I attended the Canton International Trade Fair in
Guangzhou, where traders and buyers from every corner of the globe gather twice a year to forge new commercial ties with China’s innovative manufacturers. There I witnessed thousands of traders from every
continent building connections with Chinese industries. So much for imperialism’s attempts to curtail Chinese commerce trade and hinder the extraordinary economic growth of the People’s Republic with tariffs and economic warfare. My visits have not only deepened my admiration—they have
strengthened my resolve. I plan to return to China at least once a year,for as long as my health allows. As someone with a lifelong interest and an academic degree in Social Sciences, I am committed to deepening my understanding of the forces shaping Chinese society: its green economy, its governance, its innovation, its history, its celebrated cultural diversity—and, of course, its unrivalled cuisine and hospitality.
China’s Role in the World China’s foreign policy, rooted in peaceful development and win-win
cooperation, offers a stark contrast to the aggressive militarism and economic coercion practiced by imperialist powers. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, China is building infrastructure, fostering development, and offering alternatives to the neoliberal model that has failed so many countries in every continent. Recently, China commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. the Second World War is often marked in the west by Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Yet on September 18, 1931, the Chinese people fired the first shot of resistance against Japanese aggression in Northeast China, marking the beginning of the Eastern front. China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the earliest, longest, and most costly campaign of the global Anti-Fascist War. China’s victory on the Eastern front prevented Japanese militarism from joining forces with European fascists, making a vital contribution to the final victory of the Second World War. Having endured war, China understands its cost. China is the only major country to enshrine peaceful development in its Constitution and the charter of its ruling party, elevating it to a national commitment. China has never initiated a war, never occupied an inch of foreign territory, is the only major nuclear country to pledge no first use of nuclear weapons, and remains the largest contributor of peacekeepers among permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. President Xi Jinping has said: “The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, but the trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation remains unchanged.” The CPC’s role in the international communist movement is equally vital.
It has shown that socialism is not only viable—it is vibrant, adaptive, and capable of delivering real results for working people. In doing so, it has inspired parties and movements across the globe, including our own progressive movements in Ireland. In November, the CPI will send two of our most promising young Party activists, Fionn Wallace and Liz Martin to the People’s Republic for the World Socialism Forum organised by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. We as a Party are keen to advance the work of Friends of Socialist China by connecting our Party comrades with Party activists and policy makers in China in order that they can better understand Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and China’s attempts to build a modern, prosperous, socialist country for the C21st. People-to-People Links: The Heart of Solidarity Beyond diplomacy and party relations, the people-to-people links between Ireland and China are also of growing importance. Cultural exchanges, educational cooperation, and grassroots solidarity help build understanding and break down the caricatures and misinformation so often peddled by eastern media. These human connections are the lifeblood of internationalism. They remind us that solidarity is not abstract—it is built through relationships, through shared experiences,
and through mutual respect. It is also important that as Friends of Socialist China, we combat
imperialist propaganda and widespread misconceptions and misunderstandings propagated by state and corporate media institutions in what has become derogatively referred to as ‘the west’. As Máirtín Ó Cadhain, the great Irish language poet and socialist republican once said: “The language of the people is the language of truth.” And truth is what we must continue to speak, especially in the face of
rising anti-China hysteria.
The Work of Friends of Socialist China In this regard, the work carried out by Friends of Socialist China is invaluable. You have created a space where truth can be spoken, where analysis can be deepened, and where solidarity can be practiced. In a climate of rising anti-China hysteria, your efforts are not only courageous—they are essential. You help us understand China not as a threat, but as a partner in the global struggle for peace, development, and socialism. And for that, you have our deepest thanks.
Conclusion: A Shared Future Comrades, the road ahead will not be easy. The forces of reaction are
mobilising. The contradictions of capitalism are sharpening. But in China’s example, we see hope. We see the possibility of a world not ruled by profit but guided by the needs of the people. Let us not leave this conference merely informed—but mobilised. Let us return to our communities, our unions, our parties, and our classrooms with renewed commitment to telling the truth about China and defending the achievements of socialism. Let us challenge the lies of imperialism wherever they appear—in the
media, in parliament, or in everyday conversation—and replace them
with facts, with analysis, and with solidarity. Let us build stronger people-to-people ties between Ireland and China, and between all nations resisting domination and forging their own paths. Let us support the work of Friends of Socialist China—not just with words, but with action: by sharing their materials, attending their events, and amplifying their voice. And above all, let us remember that the struggle for socialism is global.
The victories of the Chinese people are victories for all of us. Their challenges are our challenges. Their future is bound up with ours and ours with theirs. As our esteemed and martyred Marxist leader, that great internationalist, Comandante James Connolly reminded us on the eve of the outbreak of the First World Imperialist War: “We serve neither King nor Kaiser.”
Today, we serve neither empire nor capital—but the cause of socialism, the dignity of nations, and the unity of peoples. Let us continue to build bridges between our movements. Let us deepen our understanding of Chinese socialism. And let us stand together in the fight for a better world in solidarity with socialist China. Long Live the Peoples Republic of China! Long Live the Chinese Revolution!
