Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang visited Israel during August 18-21, 2018. He had meetings with Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Ophir Akunis, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely, Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Eli Cohen, and Israeli Innovation Authority Chairman Ami Appelbaum and exchanged in-depth views on the mechanism of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation (JCIC) and deepening innovation cooperation.

The two sides fully affirmed the achievements of cooperation under the mechanism of JCIC in recent years, and agreed to further improve the mechanism, strengthen cooperation in joint research projects, build a platform for exchanges, cooperation and resources connectivity between industry, academia and research institutions of the two countries, and create a favorable policy environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and research results commercialization.

During the talks, Minister Wang Zhigang pointed out that the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China puts science and technology innovation in a more important position and regards innovation as the primary driving force for development and the strategic support for building a modern economic system. China needs to enhance its ability to innovate and pursue opening-up and cooperation. China‘s door will not be closed but will only be opened wider. Minister Wang Zhigang noted that China and Israel are building a comprehensive partnership for innovation and the mechanism of JCIC has played an important role in deepening bilateral relations and innovative cooperation. He hoped that the two sides could contribute to JCIC, promote innovative cooperation pragmatically, and make contributions to science and technology progress, social and economic development and the wellbeing of the two peoples.

Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Akunis said that the joint research projects, flagship projects and joint laboratories carried out by Israel and China are progressing smoothly. He hoped that the two countries will continue to support joint research and development and deepen cooperation in key fields. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely said that the mechanism of the JCIC led by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has laid a solid foundation for a comprehensive partnership of innovation between Israel and China, and he expected both sides to make joint efforts to improve the cooperation mechanism and further expand practical cooperation in the field of innovation between the two countries. Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Cohen and Chairman of Israeli Innovation Authority Appelbaum both said that China-Israel high-tech and economic cooperation is mutually beneficial. They hoped that the two sides could continue to promote the joint research and development of industrial technologies, innovation centers and innovation parks, and upgrade industrial innovation between the two countries.

Minister Wang Zhigang meets with Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Akunis

Minister Wang Zhigang meets with Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Cohen and Chairman of Israeli Innovation Authority Appelbaum

Minister Wang Zhigang meets with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely

During his visit, Minister Wang Zhigang also met with Israeli Ambassador to China Zvi Heifetz and Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin, and visited the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel Institute of Technology, JVP Venture Capital and Incubator Company, and Natali Telemedicine. Minister Wang Zhigang exchanged views and held discussions with Israeli scientists and entrepreneurs on cooperation in basic research and research results commercialization, joint support for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Zhan Yongxin, Chinese Ambassador to Israel, Ye Dongbai, Director General of the International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Cui Yuting, Science and Technology Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Israel accompanied Minister Wang Zhigang during the visit.