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Li
Zhaoxing
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The U.S. boycott of an Israeli
arms sale to China has apparently not affected the very
close ties between Israel and China. Chinese Foreign Minister
Zhaoxing continued his trip to Israel saying his country
wishes to maintain its relations with Israel in all spheres
including the ‘army’. He also announced that China has placed
Israel on its recommended tourist map and hotels here had
better start building more rooms for thousands of Chinese
tourists who will invade Jerusalem, the city of peace. The
Chinese official received a very warm welcome from state
President Moshe Katzav and from Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin
and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. |
David Essing reports:
The U.S may have barred an Israeli
arms sale to China, but this has not affected the close relations
between Jerusalem and Beijing. China’s affable Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing was in a jaunty mood when he called on Israel’s parliament
the Knesset in Jerusalem. Hosted by the Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee, the Chinese official was greeted by chairman Yuval
Steinitz. Referring to China as the giant on the world stage and
Israel as a dwarf, Steinitz said the Jewish state had extremely
important ties with China on all levels. China was certainly the
most ancient country in the East while Israel was one of the most
ancient in the West. At this point Speaker Rivlin interjected:
We are the most ancient in the Middle East, some may be trying
to drive us into the West!’ Rivlin went on to say that the Jewish
and Chinese peoples were unique in being able to trace their roots
back to their ancient homelands.
Foreign Minister Zhaoxing said
he was thrilled to visit the Knesset on a trip of friendship and
peace. The Chinese official had talked with his Israeli counter-part
on continuing joint efforts to further enhance cooperation in
all possible spheres: trade, economy, army, culture, education
and now tourism. He said: ‘Thousands of Chinese tourist will now
invade the peace city Jerusalem!’ And he advised Israeli hotels
to start building more rooms. For two ancient peoples, it was
important to learn the lessons of history in order to march forward
to peace and common prosperity. And then Li Zhaoxing spoke solemnly
of his visit to Yad Vashem:
‘I’ve just come back from a tour to your great memorial of the
Holocaust. I learned a lot and I was so saddened when I was told
six million Jewish people were slaughtered by the Nazis in World
War II. It brought to mind that in the same period of WWII, about
twenty million Chinese were slaughtered by the Japanese aggressors’.
The Foreign Minister went on to say that the
peoples have a lot to share, not only from the past but today
and tomorrow. China hoped to always be friends and good partners
with Israel: ‘to ensure that our children and grandchildren will
always enjoy peace and happiness.’ Li Zhaoxing concluded his address
by saying: ‘Thank you and Shalom’.
David Essing, ISRACAST,
Jerusalem
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