The start-up nation is being honored at a prestigious global forum in China for its innovation in many areas following the establishment of the newly established China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation.
Israel has been recognized as this year’s country of honor at the Pujiang Innovation Forum, China’s leading economic symposium, taking place in Shanghai October 27-28. Approximately 1,500 international economic and marketing leaders attend the annual symposium.
Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang is hosting this year’s event. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Silvan Shalom, accompanied by a delegation of 80, is the guest of honor.
Israel’s participation in the Forum is part of a new cooperation platform – the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. The first meeting was held in Beijing in January 2015, chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and then Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Silvan Shalom (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
Under the auspices of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Economy, several prominent Israeli officials and industry leaders are attending the Forum, including Israel’s Ambassador in Beijing Matan Vilnai; Chief Scientist Avi Hasson; Asa Kling, director of the Israel Patent Office; Danny Yamin, vice-president of Global Microsoft; Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, co-founder of Syneron Medical Ltd.; Shmuel Ganz, director-general of the Haifa Municipality (Shanghai’s twin city), and young Internet entrepreneur Ron Gura. Israeli experts and entrepreneurs have also come to share their expertise.
An interactive digital exhibit about Israeli innovations, the product of collaboration between the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the company iConception, is being launched at the event.
Chinese and Israeli ministers will attend the festive signing of a series of agreements between companies in both countries, and a unique project involving Israeli and Chinese children who took part in innovation workshops on Israeli methodology will be presented.
Israel, as the country of honor, is hosting “A night in honor of Israel and China” with the participation of Chinese and Israeli artists. The crowning event will be a meal featuring Israeli dishes prepared by Uri Navon, chef of Machaneyuda Restaurant, and a musical performance by Amir Gvirtzman, who will play various wind instruments including bagpipes and a shofar. The evening’s program will also feature an ensemble of Israeli and Chinese actors appearing in a musical that is popular in China, The Jews of Shanghai.
China is an important strategic target for Israel’s economy, and the Pujiang Innovation Forum is viewed as an opportunity to boost bilateral relations between the two countries and to deepen cooperation in the framework of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. The second meeting of the committee will convene in 2016 in Jerusalem.
By: United with Israel Staff
(With files from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)