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Israel and China have moved to improve their cooperation in science, technology, aviation and other sectors ever since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Beijing in 2017. Just how better is the cooperation between the two countries? ICS reporter Aixinjueluo Bei has more.
China has become the largest trade partner in Asia for Israel and its third largest global trade partner. By the end of last year, the bilateral trade volume between China and Israel hit 13 billion dollars, a more than 15% increase from the previous year. In recent years, Chinese companies have become active investors in Israel from the traditional sectors to medical services, clean technology and the Internet.
EYAL PROPPER CONSUL GENERAL OF ISRAEL IN SHANGHAI "I feel a lot of enthusiasm to have more cooperation in education, to work together in high education, in science and technology, to build together platform of relations that having now advanced technology from Israel from China together. And Israel was one of the first to develop a lot of technology relating to Internet, a lot of technology relating to cyber security, and we have this kind of very advanced, we trying always to be in the edge of this technology, and this is what we feel today give us kind of opportunity to develop a very strong relation with Chinese companies, because Chinese companies also now develop a lot of very advanced technology, so we can combine together in this regard."
Investment made by Chinese companies in Israel has totaled more than 6.5 billion US dollars. Several Shanghai-based companies invested in Israel. Bright Food Group purchased a 77-percent controlling interest in Israel's largest food company Tnuva in 2015. In 2016, Fosun Group signed an agreement with Ahava to fully acquire the Israeli Dead Sea cosmetics company for 77 million dollars.
TOM ZHENG, EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & AHAVA MD COSMETICS GROUP, FOSUN GROUP "Previously Ahava is a brand like a national treasure brand, it's like a souvenir. Every people come to Israel, they'll buy Ahava products. And now we are going to brush up the image from souvenir to international skincare brand. So in the future, we are going to focus more on young generation and do more business through social network."
AIXINJUELUO BEI SHANGHAI A China Cultural Center was set up in Tel Aviv last November. It is designed to host events such as art performances, cultural exhibitions, academic seminars and other activities. With more Chinese literature, musicals, plays being introduced to Israel, Dr. Propper said that he hopes to see more cultural exchanges between the two countries. Aixinjueluo Bei, ICS for CGTN, Shanghai.