Taoiseach Brian Cowen has met Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing as part of the continuing Irish trade mission to the country.
Mr Cowen also participated in a business breakfast, organised by Enterprise Ireland and attended by more than 600 guests, as well as promotional events organised by Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia.
Following the breakfast, Mr Cowen announced that a number of Irish companies had signed contracts with Chinese organisations that are expected to generate sales of around €40m in the next 12-18 months.
It follows on from yesterday's announcement that €25m worth of contracts and agreements were signed in Shanghai during the first leg of the mission.
This brings the total of new export sales generated by the mission to €65m.
The Taoiseach had been due to travel on Sunday but postponed his departure to deal with the medical card controversy.
