On January 24, 2022, Ambassador Cai Run delivered remarks to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Israel diplomatic relations. The full text is as follows:
Your Excellency Minister Orna Barbivay,
Dear Friends, Diplomats and Fellow Chinese in Israel,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning! At the start of the new year, it gives me great pleasure to meet you online to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of China-Israel diplomatic relations. I’d like to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Israel, our warm welcome to all guests and heartfelt thanks to people in all sectors who have long been devoted to friendly exchanges between China and Israel.
In November 2021, President Xi Jinping and President Herzog had a telephone conversation. Taking the 30th anniversary as an opportunity, the two Presidents agreed to deepen bilateral relations, providing strategic guidance for China-Israel relations going forward.
Though thousands of miles apart, the Chinese and Jewish people enjoy a time-honored friendship that continues to flourish. On 24th January 1992, China and Israel established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, opening up a new chapter of friendly exchanges between the two countries and two ancient civilizations. Over the past 30 years, with the joint efforts made by leaders and people of both countries, China-Israel relations achieved sound and stable growth, and our traditional friendship has been renewed.
The past 30 years witnessed ever-increasing political mutual trust. Leaders of the two countries maintained close interaction, and friendly exchanges were carried out at all levels. We established the China-Israel intergovernmental economic and technological cooperation mechanism and the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. In 2017, China and Israel established Innovative Comprehensive Partnership, taking bilateral relations to a new level.
The past 30 years witnessed vigorous development of mutually beneficial cooperation. In 1992 the trade volume between China and Israel was $50 million. Then when it comes to last year, our bilateral trade reached $22.8 billion, increasing over 400 times in just 30 years. China is Israel’s biggest trading partner in Asia and the second largest in the world. Companies of the two sides have cooperated in such landmark projects as the new port of Haifa, the Red Line of Tel Aviv Light Rail, the China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park and the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Park, injecting strong impetus into bilateral relations.
The past 30 years witnessed deeper friendship between Chinese and Israeli people. The two countries opened direct flights between the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In 2019, 170,000 visits were made by Chinese tourists to Israel, and the number of Israelis visiting China was around 100,000. The two countries now have 24 pairs of sister cities. During the fight against COVID-19, the Chinese and Israeli people have been helping each other amid difficult times, demonstrating vividly “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
These inspiring numbers and stories of friendship reflect the fruitful achievements in China-Israel relations over the past three decades. These achievements cannot be made without the visionary state leaders and contributions made by people in both countries. They should be doubly cherished.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
History is a mirror that illuminates the present and the future. Over the past three decades, the China-Israel relations managed to withstand the test of the changing international landscape, and kept growing sound and steady in the direction of friendly cooperation, mutual respect and mutual benefits. This brings us much valuable experience that is worth carrying forward.
First, our thousand-year-long, everlasting friendship is an important bond. Over the past 1,000-plus years, the Chinese and Jewish people have been respecting and supporting each other, laying a historical and emotional foundation for China-Israel relations.
Second, mutual respect and consensus-seeking is an important basis for interactions. Different historic traditions and national realities shouldn’t be an impediment to bilateral relations between China and Israel. We need to stick to basic norms governing international relations such as mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, laying a more solid political foundation for bilateral ties.
Third, mutually-beneficial and mutually-accomplishing cooperation is an important guarantee. As proved by facts, China and Israel share similar visions, complementary strengths, great potentials and bright prospects for cooperation. We have every reason to achieve win-win results.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Chinese sage Confucius once said, “One should be able to establish himself at the age of thirty.” The Talmud also regards 30 as the most energetic age in life. Standing at a new historical point, China is ready to work with Israel to act on the important consensus reached by our leaders, and take the 30th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward our friendship, enhance mutual strategic trust and expand win-win cooperation. Let’s join hands in bringing an even brighter future for China-Israel relations.
Thank you.