Senior Chinese party official expects closer cooperation with Israel

JERUSALEM, Oct. 23 -- Liu Qibao, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said here Wednesday that China and Israel will continuously strengthen cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, information, environmental protection and culture through joint efforts.

Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

The Chinese people and the Jewish people have both made positive contributions to the world's civilization and have enjoyed mutual understanding and supported each other for a long time, said Liu, who arrived in Israel Monday for a four-day visit.

Recent years have witnessed all-round development of China- Israel relations, with political mutual trust ever growing, bilateral economic and trade cooperation ever deepening, and people-to-people exchanges conducted in various ways, he said.

The two countries are strongly complimentary in the fields of agriculture, science and technology, information, environmental protection and culture, and have a great potential for closer bilateral cooperation, Liu stressed, adding that with concerted efforts made by both sides, China and Israel will see their friendly cooperative ties grow constantly.

Liu also briefed Peres on the essence and significance of the concept of the Chinese Dream.

For his part, Peres spoke highly of China's social and economic achievements and contributions it has made to the world with its development.

Peres said Israel-China relations are experiencing delightful changes each day and he hopes that the two countries will further deepen their traditional friendship and strengthen their exchange and cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology, education and culture.

Before meeting with Peres, Liu met with Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, speaker of Israel's Knesset (parliament), and some other Israeli parliamentarians in Jerusalem.

On Monday, Liu visited the Confucius Institute of Tel Aviv University and a photo exhibition at Xinhua Photo Gallery at the university, and held a meeting with Israeli sinologists in Tel Aviv.