The reception for the 76th anniversary of Israel’s independence and the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Israeli Consulate General in Guangzhou were successfully held

The event was hosted by Deputy Consul General Aviv Zell. Mr. Alex Golaman Shayman ,Consul General of Israel in Guangzhou; Mr Zhang Jiaji, Member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress 、Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Yu Shaowen, Deputy Director of the Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee; Mr Chen Guangjun, Deputy Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Working Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee; Su Huiyi, Deputy Director of Foshan Foreign Affairs Bureau; Xie Yuhua, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Dongguan Municipal Committee; Jiang Ji, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Zhongshan City, and other provincial and municipal leaders; Diplomatic officials from various countries stationed in Guangzhou attended the event.

This year, the Independence Day celebrations in Israel and in our diplomatic missions around the world were different from previous years’ celebrations.Independence Day in Israel is observed the day after Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism, so that we all remember those soldiers who fought for our independence. Unfortunately, this year, no special reminder was needed. Since October 7, all Israelis remember daily the attack on our settlements. We vividly remember that there are still 125 abductees in Gaza, whose condition we do not know. Even after 236 days, we do not know if they are healthy or even if they are alive or no longer with us.

https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:5041153498611724?from=old_pc_videoshow
 

Consul General of Israel in Guangzhou  Mr. Alex Goldman Shayman 

In its 76 years of existence, the State of Israel has achieved many accomplishments. From a country based on agriculture, we have transformed into a modern state with a high-tech economy. From a tiny country that people barely knew its location on the world map, we have become a developed country achieving milestones in science, culture, technology, and sports. From a state surrounded by enemies, we have succeeded in advancing peace agreements with our neighbors - Egypt and Jordan - and with other moderate countries in the region. But the most unique asset of the State of Israel is its human capital. Much has been said and written about the “Start-Up Nation,” but none of this would have happened without the wonderful people who came from all corners of the globe and together created a state and a society. They created a place where people care for one another, where there is a willingness and desire to enlist and help, and where mutual responsibility exists. This is the secret behind our ability to achieve extraordinary accomplishments.

This year, we are marking 32 years of diplomatic relations with China. The relations with China are important to us as China is a leading global power and a major trading partner for Israel. In 2017, China and Israel created a unique partnership in the field of “innovation,” which continues today to serve as a roadmap for both countries. And 15 years ago, we joined the many consulates located here in Guangzhou – the historical pearl that was (and some would say still is) “the gateway to the world.”

On March 22, 2009, the Israeli consulate in Guangzhou was born with the aim of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Southeast China. More precisely, with the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Fujian. In the last 15 years, trade between Southeast China and Israel has increased significantly, reaching a peak last year. But we still have more to achieve and develop in areas such as green energy, water technology, automotive, medicine and cosmetics, and much more.

In addition, many joint projects have been created here, demonstrating well the mutual interest between Israel and China and highlighting the immense potential for cooperation between us. The two main projects in these years were an educational project establishing a joint campus for the Technion and Guangdong Province (GTIIT) and a medical cooperation project between the Guangzhou Municipality and an Israeli foundation headed by Dr. Shuki Gleitman (GIBF).

Thanks to the direct flights by Hainan Airlines from Shenzhen, many tourists came from China to Israel to see the landscapes of our country and to be impressed by the Israeli culture and economy. Simultaneously, many Israelis came to visit southern China. One of the most famous Israelis who lived here is Eran Zahavi, an Israeli footballer who played in Guangzhou between 2016-2020 and was the top scorer in the Chinese league.
 

In the future, the Israeli Consulate General in Guangzhou will continue to work hard to promote cooperation with South China in trade and economics, cultural exchanges and other cooperation and exchanges, and to promote people-to-people connections. Contribute to the friendship between China and Israel.