China and Israel yesterday vowed to deepen cooperation in
building human capacity and talent exchange as part of joint
efforts to boost bilateral relations.
Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of their talent exchange
program - carried out between Israeli Foreign Ministry's MASHAV and
China's State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs
(SAFEA).
MASHAV was set up as a division of the Israeli Foreign Ministry
in 1958 to share Israel's expertise in various fields with other
countries.
About 2,000 Chinese professionals from areas such as irrigation,
dairy, anti-desertification and livestock farming have taken part
in workshops or on-the-spot courses since the MASHAV program began
in China in 1992, SAFEA Director-General Ji Yunshi said.
About 600 Chinese managerial staff and technicians have attended
the training program in Israel, and more than 20 Israeli experts
have been invited to work in China.
The MASHAV program in China "has become a signature project and
symbol of the friendly and cooperative ties between China and
Israel", Ji said.
"As the biggest developing country, China needs to learn from
other countries their successful experience and expertise in fields
such as economic development, social progress and scientific and
technological innovation," Ji said.
"The successful program demonstrates the improvement in our
bilateral relations and I hope the two countries will strengthen
cooperation and exchange in other fields," visiting Israeli
Vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said yesterday
at a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of MASHAV.
Livni suggested China and Israel cooperate on building human
capacity and jointly extend the program to other developing
countries, especially African nations.
Livni, on a three-day visit to China, is scheduled to meet
Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi today.
(China Daily October 30, 2007)
