The Embassy’s History
Ireland and China established diplomatic relations on 22 June 1979, and Ireland opened an Embassy in Beijing shortly thereafter. Ireland’s first Ambassador in China, John Campbell, presented his credentials on 17 May 1980.
The Embassy moved to its current premises in 1980. The Embassy is located in the Jianguomen diplomatic district, one of three diplomatic districts in Beijing. It is near the well-known Ritan Park, also known as the Temple of the Sun park, where in imperial times the Emperor would visit each year to pay homage to the sun.
Irish Ambassadors to China:
| John Campbell | May 1980 - September 1983 |
| Dermot Waldron | October 1983 - February 1987 |
| Gearoid O Broin | February 1987 - October 1991 |
| Thelma Doran | November 1991 - November 1995 |
| Joe Hayes | November 1995 - August 1999 |
| Declan Connolly | September 1999 - July 2004 |
| Declan Kelleher | July 2004 - August 2013 |
| Paul Kavanagh | September 2013 to August 2017 |
| Eoin O'Leary |
September 2017 - August 2020 |
| Ann Derwin |
January 2021 - Present |