The committee will officially be known as the Joint Committee on Agricultural Cooperation (JCAC). The aim of the committee will be to strengthen agricultural trading ties between Ireland and China.

The second in command with the Chinese government, Li Kieqang, had talks with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney following a visit to a farm in Co Mayo earlier on Sunday.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal prior to the official announcement, Minister Coveney said the agreement would result in two meetings a year between the two countries.

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“And now, we’re signing this evening the setting up of a formal agricultural development committee between Ireland and China that’ll meet twice a year every second time in China and then in Ireland. It’ll be a very senior committee. We're very excited about the prospect of the committee,” Minister Coveney confirmed.