China, Israel beef up innovation cooperation

China and Israel signed a three-year action plan on innovation cooperation on Thursday.

The plan was signed by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman during the 1st Meeting of China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation in Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both sent congratulatory messages to the meeting.

In the message, Li said China is strengthening innovation cooperation internationally and trying to better its connection with global innovation networks, which will provide opportunities and potential for China-Israel innovation cooperation.

He hoped that the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation will contribute to the innovative development of the two countries as well as their people's benefit.

Netanyahu said the establishment of the committee is an important milestone, which combines Israel's innovative spirit with China's innovation strategy and will greatly promote bilateral cooperation.

Liu said the committee will inject new vigor into bilateral relations by pushing forward innovation cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, health and local affairs.

She called on the two sides to implement the three-year action plan on innovation cooperation, so as to advance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Lieberman said Israel will work with China to give full play to the role of the committee, so as to push for new progress in Israel-China innovation cooperation.

After the meeting, Liu and Lieberman jointly inaugurated China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park, which is located in east China's Jiangsu Province.

They also witnessed the signing of a number of cooperative documents, covering science and technology, higher education and culture.