Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Dublin Wednesday that a strong and stable Europe is conducive not only to the continent itself but also to the world as a whole.

Wen made the remarks during his meeting with Irish President Mary McAleese.

Wen's two-day official visit to Ireland, scheduled to conclude Wednesday evening, came shortly after the "Emerald Isle", the current rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), presided over a grand ceremony on May 1 marking the biggest-ever expansion of the bloc in history.

China appreciates the efforts Ireland has been making during its presidency of the European Council for the advancement of China-EU relations, Wen told McAleese.

McAleese said the newly-enlarged EU attaches great importance to the development of EU-China ties.

She added that cooperation between Ireland and China has seen robust progress in all areas in recent years.

Wen said China is willing to work along with Ireland to push forward the development of the mutual-benefit cooperative relations.

China also appreciates Ireland's firm stand on the one-China policy, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Wen also met with Rory O'Hanlon, chairman of the Irish House of Representatives, and Rory Kiely, chairman of the Senate. They hailed the rapid development of political, economic and cultural ties between Ireland and China, and stressed the importance of parliamentary exchanges in promoting such relations.

Wen's five-nation European tour, the first since he took office last year, has already taken him to Germany, Belgium, the EU headquarters in Brussels, Italy and Britain. He is scheduled to leave Ireland for Beijing Wednesday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2004)