ISTANBUL - Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping's just-concluded visits to Ireland and Turkey have successfully boosted bilateral ties and yielded fruitful achievements, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Wednesday night.

Xi's Feb 18-22 trip to the two countries accomplished the goals of consolidating friendship, strengthening mutual trust, deepening cooperation and boosting common development, and turned out to be a great success, Yang said.

The visits came against the backdrop of profound and complex changes in the international situation, and new development opportunities for the ties between China and Ireland and Turkey, said Yang, who accompanied Xi on the trip.

During the visits, the last two legs of Xi's three-nation tour, Xi traveled to four cities in Ireland and Turkey and attended more than 30 events.

He met with leaders of the two countries, made extensive contacts with the Irish and Turkish people, addressed business forums, and visited an economic development zone and a farm. He also met Chinese students and overseas Chinese in the two countries.

Prior to his visit, Xi accepted interviews by Irish and Turkish newspapers on China's relations with Ireland, Turkey, and the European Union (EU), and on China's growth.

He explained to Europe, Asia, Africa and the international community at large that China's growth will expand world markets. He also said it would bring more opportunities and room for cooperation to the world, demonstrating the positive, open and cooperative image of a responsible big country, Yang said.

Xi sent a positive message in the interviews that China is devoted to boosting relations with Ireland, Turkey and the European Union, Yang said.

For their part, the Irish and Turkish governments attached great importance to Xi's visit, giving the vice president a warm welcome and making special arrangements to meet with him, Yang said.

The foreign minister said Xi's trip to Ireland and Turkey gained the following achievements.

Promotion of China-Ireland and China-Turkey relations to higher levels

China and Ireland have shared a traditional friendship, Yang said. In the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral ties based on mutual respect and equal treatment have developed smoothly.

Yang said the relationship has become a model of friendly co-existence for countries that have different territory sizes, social systems, and cultural traditions.

In recent years, China and Ireland have seen closer high-level contacts, deepened their mutual understanding, and enjoyed more active non-government exchanges, Yang said.

Xi's trip to Ireland was of special significance because it was an important visit by a Chinese leader since the new Irish government was formed last March, Yang said.

During his visit, Xi held talks with President Michael D. Higgins, Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Chairman Paddy Burke of Seanad Eireann, the upper house of the Irish Parliament.

During the talks, Xi praised the development of relations between China and Ireland. He also expressed hope that the two sides would continue to elevate their traditional friendship and mutual trust and transform their sound political relations into mutually beneficial pragmatic cooperation.

The Irish leaders said that as a friend of China, Ireland has always attached great importance to expanding and deepening bilateral relations with China and deems the strengthening of its ties with China as a top priority.

The Irish government will adhere to one China policy and is very glad to have the opportunity to exchange experiences with China and to learn from each other, the leaders said.

Yang said that over the past 41 years since China and Turkey established diplomatic relationship, bilateral ties have maintained a healthy and sound momentum of development. That, he said, has been evidenced by a reinforced political mutual trust, a steady rise in the level of bilateral trade cooperation and frequent humanistic exchanges.

The two countries announced the establishment of a strategic cooperation relationship in 2011, marking a new phase of all-round development for their bilateral ties, Yang said.

He added that Xi's visit was of great importance to further deepening the China-Turkey strategic cooperation.

During his talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Xi made a four-point proposal on furthering China-Turkey relations. The proposal included maintaining bilateral high-level exchanges, and expanding economic and trade cooperation. It also also included stepping up humanistic exchanges and cooperation and enhancing cooperation on a multilateral basis.

Turkey said it agreed with Xi's proposals and that his visit will boost the development of their bilateral ties.

Turkey is ready to work with China to further enrich the strategic relationship between the two countries so as to bring their strategic cooperation to a higher level.