On July 16th, 2013, Ambassador Gao Yanping met with Mr. Reuven Ben Shachar, Mayor of Giv'atayim, at her residence. Mr. Shalom Hananya, assistant mayor and director of foreign relations, and Mr. Rami Drezya, councilor and chairman of economic committee, were present.

Ambassador Gao and Mayor Shachar

Ambassador Gao spoke highly of the contributions Giv'atayim has made to promote Sino-Israeli relations and friendship between the two peoples, and briefed Mayor Shachar the latest development of Sino-Israeli relations and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to China. Ambassador Gao also introduced the theory of Chinese Dream initiated by Chinese new leadership, stressed that the Chinese Dream is not only beneficial to Chinese people, but also provide opportunities for bilateral cooperations between China and other countries. Ambassador Gao encouraged Giv'atayim to continue to enhance the exchanges and cooperations in the fields of trade, culture and education with Chinese cities especially with its sister city Harbin.

Mayor Shachar said Giv'atayim is one of the most promising cities in Israel which celebrated its 90th anniversary not long ago, emphasized Giv'atayim attaches great importance to the friendship with Chinese people and good relations with its sister city Harbin, and hoped to witness more cooperation and more personnel exchanges with Chinese cities in the fields of culture, education, arts, youth exchanges as well as small and medium enterprises. Mayor Shachar said he was looking forward to visiting Harbin and attend the Ice and Snow Festival in the near future, and invited Ambassador Gao to visit Giv'atayim at her convenient time.

Ambassador Gao also exchanged views with Mayor Shachar on issues of mutual interest such as Israeli economy and situation of Middle East region.