BEIJING, Dec. 10 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said he looks forward to a moderate to high speed of economic growth for the country on Wednesday.

"China is encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation among the people to build new engines for the economy in pursuit of a moderate to high speed of economic growth as well as a medium to high level of the economy," Li said as he met with Irish President Michael D. Higgins at the Great Hall of the People.

During the meeting, Li hailed the smooth development of the bilateral relationship over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"We are willing to boost all-level interactions, enhance practical cooperation in all areas, and expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges with the Irish side to strengthen bilateral ties," Li said.

Li also said he hopes Ireland, as an important member of the European Union (EU), will continue to play a positive role in promoting the relationship between China and the EU.

Referring to Ireland's successful transition from an agricultural economy to a knowledge-based economy with innovation and technology in the 1980s, Li said the Chinese side stands ready to share experiences with Ireland to achieve win-win reciprocity and common development.

Higgins said Ireland and China have enjoyed a long-standing friendship and that the two sides have been cooperating closely on education, science and technology in recent years.

Ireland always values their relationship with China, and will boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It will work with China to address global challenges and promote the relationship between Ireland and China as well as that between the EU and China in a sustainable way, said the Irish president.

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