Xi says China to continue promoting relationship with Israel

File photo shows musical quartet performing in the China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. [Xinhua/Guo Yu]

BEIJING -- China will take the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel next year as an opportunity to promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of their innovative comprehensive partnership, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday.

In a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, Xi said China highly values its relations with Israel, and is ready to work with the Israeli side to bring more benefits to their people.

Noting that both the Chinese nation and the Jewish nation have a time-honored history and civilization, Xi said the two sides enjoy enduring friendly exchanges, which have left many heart-touching stories worth remembering.

Since the establishment of China-Israel diplomatic ties, Xi said, the two countries have adhered to the key principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Their relationship has achieved rapid and sound development and their pragmatic cooperation in various fields has yielded positive results, he added.

Postdoctoral researchers from China work in a microbiology laboratory in Hebrew University of Jerusalem on May 26, 2020. [Xinhua/Chen Wenxian]

Xi stressed that China and Israel have complementary economic advantages, and are fully capable of carrying out mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.

Some Chinese enterprises have actively taken part in Israel's infrastructure construction, and many Israeli innovative companies have settled and developed in China, Xi said.

Noting that the two sides have jointly built such landmark projects as the new port of Haifa, the China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park and the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Park, Xi said innovation has become a highlight and booster of bilateral relations.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with Israel in such fields as science and technology, agriculture and health care, and expand exchanges and cooperation with Israel in culture, education, tourism, sports and other areas, so as to lay a solid foundation for the friendly public opinion between the two countries, he said.

A staff member shows Panini (similar to sandwiches) at the booth of TNUVA from Israel at Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 9, 2019. [Xinhua/Cai Yang]

Xi added that China welcomes Israel to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative.

For his part, Herzog said that Israel pays high respect for China's long history and splendid culture, and sincerely admires the development achievements made by the Chinese people under the outstanding leadership of President Xi.

He said that the Israeli people will never forget the precious help the Chinese people rendered to the Jewish refugees.

Guests visit the photo exhibition of "The Jews in Modern China" at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Dec. 13, 2016. [Xinhua/Guo Yu]

The Israeli president underlined that Israel firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to deepening Israel-China friendly relations.

He added that Israel is willing to join hands with China to successfully host a series of activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as science and technology, innovation, economy, agriculture, and sports.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East.

Xi noted that China has always advocated peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine through dialogue and negotiation on the basis of the two-state solution.

China has always played its part in defending peace and promoting development in the Middle East, he said, adding that China is willing to work with the international community to continue to make unremitting efforts to promote security, stability, development and prosperity in the Middle East region.