Israelis keen to expand co-operation
By Qin Yuding (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-09 00:20

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom agreed to enhance Sino-Israeli ties and expand co-operation in talks Monday in Beijing.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing's Zhongnanhai leadership compound November 8, 2004. [Reuters]

Shalom, also Israeli deputy prime minister, is on a five-day official visit in China, which started on Friday.

China and Israel have made smooth progress with bilateral relations since diplomatic ties were forged, and are both keen to deepen their friendship, Li said.

Li said China is ready to keep expanding ties in compliance with the principle of mutual benefits and seeking common development.

Li said China is following changes in the Middle-east region, and hopes the conflict between Israel and Palestine will be halted for peace talks to resume as soon as possible.

"The Chinese side is willing to continue to play a constructive role in bringing about peace in the area," he said.

Shalom said he believed the two sides have a lot in common and have maintained sound co-operation in areas like trade, agriculture, culture and education.

After the meeting, Shalom attended a signing ceremony to agree an extension of co-operation in Israel-China agricultural training.

The Sino-Israeli International Centre for Training in Agriculture was set up in 1993 by the China Agricultural University and the Centre for International Co-operation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The centre offers 58 high-level courses of modern agriculture and agro-technology, with 2,500 participants from all over China. It has also sent about 100 Chinese trainees to Israel for further training.

The success of the centre has pushed co-operation further and the two sides have decided to extend it for five more years, with the emphasis on research and training in the use of water in agriculture and dairy development.

Shalom also donated a US$1 million Gilat satellite communication system to the Central Agricultural Broadcasting and Television School, which will then be able to expand its e-learning system to another 330 training centres in China.

The deputy prime minister said he would like to see co-operation between the two countries in fields as well as agriculture.

Shalom also met with Liu Jingmin, Beijing's vice-mayor and executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games. They agreed to promote Sino-Israeli co-operation for the forthcoming event.

The Israeli deputy prime minister hopes Israeli companies will take part in projects and tenders for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He reviewed the participation and contribution of Israeli companies in the 2004 Athens Olympics, saying that more than ten Israeli companies won tenders worth 250 million dollars in security, high-tech, communications and water areas.

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