Israel Guest of Honor at Innovation Forum in China
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Israel Guest of Honor at Innovation Forum in China

  • 10/28/2015
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    ​(Communicated by MFA Spokesperson's Bureau)

    Israel was chosen to be this year's country of honor at thePujiang Innovation Forum taking place in Shanghai on 27-28 October 2015. This is the leading economic forum in China, with 1500 economic and market leaders attending every year. Israel was awarded this honor following intensive work by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the agency of the Israeli embassy in Beijing, together with the Ministry of Economy.

    Israel's participation in the Forum is part of a new cooperation platform, the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. The committee unites Israeli-Chinese cooperation activities in different areas. The first meeting was held in Beijing in January 2015, chaired by Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Israel's then foreign minister, Mr. Avigdor Liberman.

    Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang is hosting the Forum and the guest of honor is Deputy PM and Interior Minister Silvan Shalom. Minister Shalom is accompanied by a delegation of 80 people.

    Under the auspices of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Economy, many Israeli officials and industry leaders are attending the Forum, including Israel's Ambassador in Beijing Matan Vilnai, Chief Scientist Avi Hasson, Director of Israel Patent Office Asa Kling, Vice-President of Global Microsoft Danny Yamin, the co-founder of Syneron Medical Ltd. Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, the Director General of Haifa Municipality (Shanghai's twin city) Shmuel Ganz, and young Internet entrepreneur Ron Gura. Israeli experts and entrepreneurs have come to share their experience and expertise with Forum attendees.

    At the convention, an interactive digital exhibit about Israeli innovations, the product of collaboration between the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the company iConception, is being launched. The Chinese and Israeli ministers will attend the festive signing of a series of agreements between Israel and Chinese companies. 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 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 the 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 during 2016 in Jerusalem.