Israel and China to cooperate on technology

Israel and China have vowed to cooperate further on technological innovation, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, telecommunications, modern agriculture and biomedicine, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The agreement marked the end of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-day visit to China yesterday, in which the two countries strengthened relations that opened up “very big opportunities” that not only improve China’s infrastructure but are also “good for the Israeli economy”.

The agreement will see Chinese and Israeli companies participating in infrastructure projects and for Israeli green-tech companies to help clean up China’s developing ecosystem. The agreements will also allow Chinese citizens to purchase cheese and other products from Israeli dairy farms.

Israel has long viewed China as a major player in its economic growth, just last year, around $500 million was invested into Israeli companies by Chinese companies.

“The marriage of the Chinese economic capacities and Israel’s innovation capacities is something that provides benefit to both our peoples,” Netanyahu stressed in his online chat on Xinhuanet, China’s official press agency.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who held talks with Netanyahu, claimed that the agreement is not for political purposes but are purely economic and technological, and that China is a mutual friend to both Israel and the Palestinians.