Wexford Council delegation to visit China

By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting

Last September Wexford County Council hosted the Governor of Jiangxi Provisional People’s Government, Mr. Ye Jianchun, who is one of the most senior government representatives of China and the Governor has now extended an invitation to the Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Fleming to lead a Wexford delegation to a reciprocal visit to Jiangxi province during 2024.

The matter was on the agenda for last Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council where Liz Hore, Director of Services, informed the members of the invitation to the Cathaoirleach and stated; “I am seeking approval for a delegation to attend on behalf of Wexford County Council.”

Wexford was the only location outside Dublin visited by the China delegation in September while visiting Ireland, and while in Wexford, included a tour of Danone, employing 380 people, and on a journey of net-zero emissions and of particular interest to the delegation was “Danone as a market leader in sustainability within the food manufacturing industry.”

“In addition to meetings with Wexford County Council and in order to promote economic trade, education culture and tourism activities between the tour regions, there were meetings with senior management of Danone, Rosslare Europort and Wexford CBS Secondary School,” said Ms. Hore, who added; “A letter of intent was signed to progress the strategic linkages and to work towards embracing each regions cultural strengths.”

Approval for the trip to China met with silence from the members although Cllr Jim Codd couldn’t get his head around the “close ties between China and New Ross?” and Cllr Davy Hynes, stopped short of suggesting that the delegation should go by boat, but questioned “the effects of air travel on the environment.” Cllr Fionntán Ó Súillabháin also spoke out strongly against foreign travel.

This reporter has no further information on Wexford County Council’s trip to China, but if you can get the right odds with your local bookmaker – it will probably happen on St. Patrick’s Day! Cllr Fleming’s tenure expires at the end of June!