Denis O'Donovan (C), chairman of the Seanad Eireann (Irish Senate), the upper house of the Irish Parliament, visits a photo exhibition at a reception in Dublin, Ireland, Sept. 25, 2018. Denis O'Donovan has called for efforts to deepen the Ireland-China relationship. He made the remarks in a speech delivered at the reception that the Chinese embassy in Ireland hosted here Tuesday night to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1. (Photo: Xinhua)

DUBLIN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Denis O'Donovan, chairman of the Seanad Eireann (Irish Senate), the upper house of the Irish Parliament, has called for efforts to deepen the Ireland-China relationship.

He made the remarks in a speech delivered at the reception that the Chinese embassy in Ireland hosted here Tuesday night to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1.

Conveying congratulations and best wishes of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, the Irish government, and the Irish people to the Chinese people on the important anniversary celebration, O'Donovan said 2018 had been a year of increased connectivity and impressive cooperation between Ireland and China across many platforms and at every level of government and society.

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. O'Donovan said this is an important milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two nations, adding that both sides should seize the opportunity to further deepen the bilateral relationship and grow towards the future.

Over three hundred guests attended Tuesday's event, including top Irish officials, diplomats from various embassies in Ireland, representatives from Chinese institutions and companies based in the country as well as as representatives from the local Chinese community and Chinese students studying here.

Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Yue Xiaoyong, in his opening speech at the reception, said over the past few years, the Chinese-Irish relationship has witnessed a strong growing momentum and substantial progress had been made in different fields of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

He said that the upcoming 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties, which falls in June 2019, will provide an even greater opportunity for the two sides to further develop their relations.

He called for a concerted effort to build a closer relationship between the two countries.