DUBLIN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade between China and Ireland set a record high of 14.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, up 31.23 percent from a year ago, said a Chinese official on Tuesday.

Last year China exported 3.64 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods to Ireland, up 24.87 percent year on year while its imports from Ireland were valued at 10.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 33.51 percent year on year, said Yue Xiaoyong, Chinese ambassador to Ireland.

The trade surplus that Ireland enjoyed over China last year further widened to 7.2 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 38.35 percent compared with the previous year, he said.

The above figures were announced by Yue while addressing a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy here on Tuesday night to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year which falls on Feb. 5 this year.

Yue told over 200 people who attended the reception that 2019 is a year of opportunity for the development of the relationship between China and Ireland as it marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

He said that over the last 40 years, bilateral ties have developed steadily and the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation formed by the two countries in 2012 has further strengthened their practical and fruitful cooperation.

Big deals were secured by Irish companies which attended the first edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai last November, he said.

"We welcome more Irish companies and friends from different circles to participate in the second edition of the CIIE which will be held later this year," he said, adding that China is willing to share the opportunity of development through economic globalization with all the countries across the world, including Ireland.